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929.2 

B11901a 

1529115 


GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2018 


https://archive.org/details/robertbabsonalliOOalli 


ROBERT  BABSON  ALLING'S 


ANCESTORS,  DESCENDANTS, 


AND  CLOSE  RELATIONS 


& 


COMPILED 


by 


ROBERT  BABSON  ALLING 


<r 


Privately  Printed 
Chicago  -  1930 


(Revised  by  Relatives  1959) 


For  extra  copies  address 

SCORE  &  SCRIPT,  Inc. 
7 6  Chestnut  Street 
Boston,  Mass. 


1529115 

Text  of  message  on  Babson  Reservoir  and  Sanctuary  tablet: 


"This  reservoir  watershed  and  reservation  are  for  the  people  of 
Gloucester,  the  land  having  been  given  in  memory  of  my  father  and 
grandfather  who  roamed  over  these  rocky  hills.  They  had  the  vision 
that  some  day  it  should  be  conserved  for  the  uses  of  the  city  and  as  an 
inspiration  to  all  lovers  of  God  and  nature.” 


Roger  W.  Babson 


ROBERT  BABSON  ALLING 


THESE  annals  and  records  were  compiled  by  Robert  Babson 
Ailing.  The  work  of  assembling  them  was  begun  but 
before  completion  he  was  suddenly  called  away  by  death 
in  the  42nd  year  of  his  age.  Among  several  obituary  notices,  that 
of  his  friend  and  Pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Emerson,  perhaps  best  expresses 
the  love  and  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  family  and  the 
community. 

DR.  EMERSON’S  TRIBUTE 

Robert  Babson  Alling 

Somewhere  in  his  writings,  Stevenson  in  a  brave  moment  makes 
the  remark  that  he  would  rather  go  out  in  mid  career  like  a  comet 
trailing  some  clouds  of  glory  behind  him  than  to  wear  his  life  out  in 
a  bath  chair.  Such  was  the  passing  of  Robert  Babson  Ailing,  who  died 
suddenly,  June  12,  1929,  as  he  was  sitting  beside  the  bedside  of  his 
little  son,  James.  A  man  in  healthy  prime,  "not  slothful  in  business, 
fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord.”  A  host  of  friends  attest  the 
respect  and  affection  in  which  they  held  him.  His  family  loved  him  as 
a  devoted  husband  and  exemplary  father.  The  city  mourns  him  as  a 
man  of  honor  and  a  useful  citizen,  the  North  Church,  Detroit,  as 
a  loyal  and  generous  member.  He  was  born  in  Seward,  Nebraska, 
September  5,  1887,  to  Ann  Babson  and  Charles  S.  Ailing.  On  the 
death  of  his  father,  at  the  age  of  seven,  his  mother  returned  to  her  old 
home  in  Gloucester,  Mass.  After  public  school,  he  continued  his 
education  at  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology  and  Amherst 
College,  where  he  graduated  in  1910.  Four  years  in  Wyoming  widened 
his  horizon,  and  after  one  year  in  Kansas  City  he  entered  business  in 
Detroit. 

In  1917  he  married  Irene  Brown  and  from  this  happy  union  were 
born  John,  James,  Mary,  Ann,  Susan  and  Elizabeth,  to  whom  he  was 
singularly  devoted  as  a  wise  and  companionable  father.  The  tragedy  of 
his  death  is  glorified  by  the  blessing  of  his  life. 

No  better  summary  of  his  life  could  be  made  than  in  those 
inclusive  words  of  Stevenson,  "To  be  honest,  to  be  kind — to  earn  a 
little  and  to  spend  a  little  less,  to  make  upon  the  whole  a  family 
happier  for  his  presence,  to  renounce  when  that  shall  be  necessary  and 
without  capitulation- — above  all,  on  the  same  given  condition,  to  keep 
friends  with  himself — here  is  a  task  for  all  that  a  man  of  fortitude 
and  delicacy.”  His  task  was  well  done.  His  "works  follow  him.” 
"Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.” 


5 


PREFACE 


1820  -  1897 

In  getting  together  the  genealogical  tree  of  my  Grandfather, 
Gustavus  Babson,  I  have  used  the  story  given  me  by  my  Aunt, 
Miss  Susan  Babson,  as  a  foundation.  To  this  I  have  added  other 
correlating  data.  I  believe  that  it  is  simpler  to  trace  the  various 
lines  starting  back  with  the  Mayflower  descent  and  consequently  in  the 
following  pages  our  progenitors  are  listed  back  to  the  early  colonial 
period. 

From  his  mother,  Elizabeth  Gorham  Low,  Grandfather  can  trace 
his  descent  back  to  the  Mayflower.  Here  we  find  John  Tilley,  his 
daughter  Elizabeth  Tilley,  who  later  married  John  Howland.  Their 
daughter  —  Desire  Howland  —  married  Captain  John  Gorham  in  1643. 
It  was  their  great,  great,  great  granddaughter  —  Lucy  Rogers  —  who 
married  John  Low,  Jr.,  the  father  of  Elizabeth  Gorham  Low,  grand¬ 
father’s  mother. 

On  his  father’s  side,  he  has  among  his  ancestors,  Governor 
Dudley  of  Massachusetts,  whose  daughter  Patience  Dudley  married 
Daniel  Dennison.  Their  only  daughter,  Elizabeth  Dennison  mar¬ 
ried  John  Rogers,  who  was  President  of  Harvard  in  1681.  His 
father,  Nathaniel  Rogers,  was  born  about  1598  and  came  to  Massa¬ 
chusetts  Bay  along  about  1635.  It  is  generally  believed  that  we  are 
descended  from  the  martyr  John  Rogers  who  was  burned  to  the  stake 
by  Queen  Mary  on  February  4,  1555.  Recently,  there  have  been 
further  investigations  on  this  and  from  the  data  which  seems  correct, 
the  wife  of  the  Martyr  fled  "underground”  with  her  children  after 
the  husband’s  death  and  a  generation  has  been  lost  to  the  records. 
(See  detailed  account  of  this  under  the  Rogers  family.) 

The  great,  great  granddaughter  of  Rev.  John  Rogers  and  Elizabeth 
Dennison  was  Ann  Rogers,  who  married  William  Babson  on  April  17, 
1777.  Their  son  was  Nathaniel  Babson,  the  father  of  grandfather 
Babson. 

During  Colonial  days,  the  Lows,  the  Rogers,  the  Gorhams  and 
the  Babsons  were  all  living  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony.  The 
Babsons  were  a  family  of  mariners,  respected,  honorable  and  upright 


6 


citizens  but  they  do  not  seem  to  have  taken  any  outstanding  public 
position  in  the  Colony’s  affairs,  as  did  the  Lows,  the  Rogers  and  the 
Gorhams.  As  can  be  seen  in  the  following  pages,  the  three  latter 
families  were  very  prominent  in  the  early  days  and  took  an  outstand¬ 
ing  part  in  the  doings  of  the  colony. 

Robert  Babson  Alling 


COMPACT  SIGNED  BY  THE  FIRST  MAYFLOWER  PARTY 
In  ye  name  of  God  Amen.  We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  the 
loyall  subjects  of  our  dread  soveraigne  Lord  King  James,  by  ye  grace 
of  God,  of  Great  Britaine,  Franc,  &  Ireland  King,  defender  of  ye 
faith,  &c. 

Having  undertaken,  for  ye  glorie  of  God,  and  advancements  of 
ye  first  colonie  in  ye  Northerne  parts  of  Virginia.  Doe  by  these 
presents  solemnly  &  mutualy  in  ye  presence  of  God,  and  one  of  another ; 
covenant,  &  combine  ourselves  together  into  a  civill  body  politick; 
for  our  better  ordering,  &  preservation  &  furtherance  of  ye  ends  afore¬ 
said;  and  by  vertue  hearof  to  enacte,  constitute,  and  frame  such  & 
equal  lawes,  ordinances,  Acts,  constitutions,  &  offices,  from  time  to 
time,  as  shall  be  thought  most  meete  &  convenient  for  ye  generall 
good  of  ye  Colonie:  unto  which  we  promise  all  due  submission  and 
obedience.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunder  subscribed  our 
names  at  Cap-Codd  ye.  11.  of  November,  in  ye  year  of  ye  raigne  of 
our  soveraigne  Lord  King  James  of  England,  Franc,  &  Ireland  ye 
eighteenth  and  of  Scotland  ye  fiftie  fourth.  Anc.  Dom.  1620. 

John  Carver  Samuel  Fuller  Edward  Tilley 

William  Bradford  Christopher  Martin  John  Tilley 

William  Mullins 
William  White 
Richard  Warren 
John  Howland* 

Stephen  Hopkins 


Edward  Winslow 
William  Browster 
Isaac  Allerton 
Myles  Standish 
John  Alden 


Francis  Cooke 
Thomas  Rogers 
Thomas  Tinker 
John  Ridgdale 
Edward  Fuller 


John  Turner 
Francis  Eaton 
James  Chilton 
John  Crackston 
John  Billington 
Moses  Fletcher 
John  Goodman 


Degory  Priest 
Thomas  Williams 
Gilbert  Winslow 
Edmund  Margeson 
Peter  Brown 
Richard  Britteridge 
George  Soule 


Richard  Clark 
Richard  Gardiner 
John  Allerton 
Thomas  English 
Edward  Doty 
Edward  Leister 


*  John  Howland  of  the  Mayflower,  married  John  Tilley’s  daughter 
Elizabeth,  from  whom  descended  the  principals  referred  to  in  this  volume. 

Let  us  follow  through  the  descendants  of  four  of  these  families:  — 
Dudley,  Dennison,  Howland,  and  Gorham. 


7 


DUDLEY  FAMILY 


GOVERNOR  THOMAS  DUDLEY  was  born  in  England  in  1576. 
He  was  an  only  son  of  Captain  Rogers  Dudley  who  was  killed  in  battle 
in  1577.  After  pursuing  Latin  studies  and  then  a  clerkship  in  the 
office  of  a  kinsman  he  was  made  a  Captain  in  Queen  Elizabeth’s 
army.  He  took  part  in  the  Spanish  war  against  Phillip  II  of  Spain. 

Captain  Dudley  was  at  the  siege  of  Anirens  in  1587  and  was 
mustered  out  of  service  barely  of  age,  having  already  acquired  dis¬ 
tinction  as  a  brave  and  skillful  soldier,  and  the  reputation  of  a  gentle¬ 
man  of  character  and  position.  By  his  residence  abroad  and  association 
with  army  officers  he  acquired  the  French  language  and  the  good  man¬ 
ners  connected,  which  greatly  aided  him  in  his  practical  life. 

He  was  soon  married  to  Dorothy  York  a  gentle  woman,  whose 
estate  was  considerable.  Thomas  Dudley  became  an  earnest  and  well 
known  Puritan  who  with  eleven  others  in  August,  1629,  signed  an 
agreement  to  emigrate  to  New  England  to  form  a  government  accord¬ 
ing  to  their  own  ideas.  They  sailed  from  home  March  29,  1630,  in  the 
good  ship  "Arbella”  and  landed  in  Salem  June  12,  1630. 

Bancroft  says  that  when  Dudley  saw  the  country  he  repented 
that  he  had  ever  come,  but  he  was  no  "quitter”  and  with  Winthrop 
soon  became  the  master  and  ruling  spirit  of  the  Colony.  He  was  twice 
Governor,  Deputy  Governor  thirteen  times,  and  Major  General  of 
the  Militia.  He  was  also  a  Magistrate  and  Judge  of  .‘the  Quarter 
Sessions  of  Court.  His  capacity,  experience,  fidelity  and  unimpeachable 
integrity  brought  to  him  confidence  and  respect.  He  leaned  toward 
severity  rather  than  graciousness  and  was  more  respected  and  revered 
than  he  was  loved.  In  this  he  was  an  Ideal  Puritan. 

It  would  appear  from  the  following  lines  which  we  find  con¬ 
cerning  him  that  he  was  a  lover  of  books  and  a  witty  afterdinner 
speaker. 

"In  books  a  prodigal,  they  say 
a  living  Cyclopedia: 

Of  histories  of  church  and  priest, 
a  full  compendium  at  least : 

A  table  talker,  rich  in  sense, 

and  witty  without  wits  pretence.” 


8 


He  first  settled  in  Cambridge,  in  1635  removed  to  Ipswich,  Mass., 
where  he  had  a  large  grant  of  land  before  the  16th  of  May,  1637. 

He  was  very  positive  in  his  religious  opinions  and  like  many  men 
of  his  time,  looked  with  disfavor  on  those  who  differed  from  him. 
This  is  shown  by  the  following  lines  which  were  found  in  a  pocket  of 
his  clothes  after  death.  He  died  on  July  31,  1653. 

"Dim  eyes,  deaf  ears,  cold  stomach  show 
My  dissolution  is  in  view, 

Eleven  times  seven  near  lived  have  I 
And  now  God  calls,  I  willing  die, 

My  shuttle’s  shot,  my  race  is  run, 

My  scene  is  set,  my  day  is  done, 

My  span  is  measured,  tale  is  told, 

My  flower  is  faded,  and  grown  old, 

My  dream  is  vanished,  shadows  fled, 

My  soul  with  Christ,  my  body  dead, 

Farewell  dear  wife,  children  and  friends, 

Hate  heresie,  make  blessed  ends, 

Bear  Poverty,  live  with  good  men ; 

So  shall  we  live  with  joy  again.” 

Ipswich  has  commemorated  his  memory  by  a  tablet  set  in  stone 
by  the  road  side,  near  the  house  in  which  he  resided  while  in  Ipswich. 
There  is  also  a  similar  tablet  in  Cambridge,  Mass.  His  daughter 
Patience  married  Major  General  Dennison. 

From  the  History  of  Billerica,  Mass.,  we  read: 

"It  was  ordered  by  this  p’sent  Coart  that  John  Winthrope, 
Esqr.,  the  p’sent  Governor,  shall  have  1200  acres  of  land  whereof  1000 
was  formerly  granted  him.  &  Thomas  Dudley  Esqr.,  the  Deputy  Gov¬ 
ernor,  his  1000  acres  granted  to  him  by  a  former  Coarte,  both  of  them 
about  6  miles  from  Concord,  northward;  the  said  Governor  to  have 
his  1200  acres  on  the  southerly  side  of  the  great  stones  standing  neare 
together,  close  by  the  ryver-side  that  comes  from  the  Concord  & 
the  Deputie  Governor  to  have  his  1000  acres  on  the  northerly  side  ot 
the  said  two  great  stones  (which  stones  were  lately  named  the  two 
Brothers.)  The  Deputie  Governor  is  to  run  a  line  Easterly  from  the 
said  stone  so  that  he  may  take  in  a  meadowe  on  the  other  side  of  a 
hill.  &  in  the  said  line  running  Easterly,  &  to  extend  his  lot  as  far 
southerly  as  his  twelve  hundred  acres  will  beare,  which  2200  acres 
are  by  coarte  established  to  the  said  parties,  generally,  &  their  severall 
heires.” 


9 


DENNISON  FAMILY 


MAJOR  GENERAL  DANIEL  DENNISON  was  born  in  England 
in  1612.  Came  to  America  when  he  was  nineteen  years  old.  He  passed 
the  first  year  in  Roxbury,  removing  the  following  year  to  Cambridge. 
He  married  Patience  Dudley,*  October  18,  1633.  In  1634  the  General 
Court  appointed  him  on  a  committee  to  set  out  the  bounds  and  settle 
differences  between  towns,  and  he  was  rewarded  with  a  grant  of  200 
acres  on  the  east  side  of  the  Charles  River.  He  was  chosen  deputy  in 
1635,  1640,  1644,  1648,  1649,  1651  and  1652.  He  removed  to  Ipswich 
and  in  1636  was  made  Town  clerk.  The  same  year  he  was  chosen 
Captain.  In  1643  Ipswich  granted  him  200  acres  of  land.  In  the  same 
year  it  was  ordered  that  there  should  be  a  general  training  of  troops  in 
charge  of  Capt.  Dennison  at  an  annual  salary  of  24  pounds  and 
seven  shillings.  He  is  spoken  of  as  a  good  soldier  of  "quick  capacity” 
and  his  company  was  said  to  have  been  well  instructed.  In  1647  he  was 
returned  to  the  General  Court  from  Ipswich,  and  was  elected  Speaker 
in  1648,  1651  and  1652. 

He  became  interested  and  was  very  helpful  in  the  establishment 
of  the  Grammar  School  and  gave  freely  toward  its  maintenance. 

He  was  made  Major  General  in  1653  and  held  this  office  until 
1680.  In  May,  1658,  he  was  appointed  to  transcribe  the  laws  of  the 
Colony.  As  compensation  the  Court  granted  him  a  greater  part  of 
Block  Island.  In  1660  General  Dennison  joined  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artillery  company  in  Boston  and  had  the  honor  to  be 
elected  commander  in  the  same  year. 

In  1665  his  dwelling  was  destroyed  by  fire.  His  loss  was  serious. 
In  1675  Gen.  Dennison  took  an  active  part  in  the  King  Philip’s  War 
and  was  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Massachusetts  forces 
June  26,  1675. 

In  1676  he  was  authorized  to  impress  men,  horses,  ammunition 


*Patience  Dudley  was  the  daughter  of  Gov.  Thomas  Dudley. 


10 


and  provisions,  at  his  own  discretion  and  was  now  known  as  Major 
General  of  the  whole  Colony 

During  his  public  life  he  had  been  representative  1 1  years,  Speaker 
of  the  House  3  years,  an  officer  29  years,  Major  General  of  entire 
Colony  11  years,  commissioner  of  United  Colonies  8  years. 

General  Dennison  died  September  20,  1682,  and  left  a  treatise 
which  was  afterwards  published,  entitled  "Irenicon,"  or  "Salve  for 
New  England." 

He  was  a  man  of  distinguished  abilities  which  he  faithfully  used 
in  public  service.  In  his  funeral  sermon  his  Pastor  said,  "A  great  man 
has  fallen  in  our  little  Israel." 

The  Colony  allowed  his  family  a  full  year’s  salary  to  May,  1683, 
also  20  pounds  additional.  He  was  survived  by  a  son  John,  who 
married  Martha,  daughter  of  Gov.  Symonds. 

The  200th  anniversary  of  Major  General  Daniel  Dennison’s 
death  was  celebrated  by  a  memorial  service  at  Ipswich  on  September 
20,  1882.  Nathaniel  Babson  attended  this  service. 

General  Dennison  married  Patience  Dudley,  daughter  of  Gov. 

Dudley. 

Their  daughter  Elizabeth  D.  mar.  Dr.  John  Rogers. 

Their  son  John  mar.  Marthy  Whittingham. 

Their  son  John  mar.  Susana  Whipple. 

Their  son  Daniel  mar.  Elizabeth  Gorham. 

Their  daughter  Lucy  mar.  John  Low,  Jr. 

Their  daughter  Elizabeth  Gorham  mar.  Nathaniel  Babson. 

Their  children — 

Nathaniel  married  Emeline  Rogers. 

John  Low  married  Mary  Hodgkings. 

Ann  R.  married  Stephen  L.  Davis. 

Charles  married  Caroline  Shaw. 

Gutavus  married  Susan  S.  Low. 

Eliza  G.  married  E.  P.  Ring. 


11 


HOWLAND  FAMILY 


John  Tilley  came  with  his  wife  and  daughter  Elizabeth  in  the 
Mayflower;  the  parents  died  the  first  winter,  the  daughter  survived  and 
married  JOHN  HOWLAND. 

John  Howland  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Tilley.  He 
was  a  deputy  1641,  ’45  to  ’58,  ’6l,  ’63,  ’66,  ’67  and  ’70.  Assistant  in 
1634-35,  also  soldier  in  the  Plymouth  military  company  in  1643.  He 
died  February  23,  1673,  aged  more  than  80  years,  and  his  widow  died 
December  21,  1687,  aged  80  years.  He,  with  Gov.  Bradford  and  six 
others  assumed  the  entire  debt  of  the  colony  thus  securing  their  free¬ 
dom  from  the  company  in  England  who  financed  them. 

John  Howland  at  one  time  commanded  the  Plymouth  territory  on 
Kennebee  river.  He  was  a  representative  in  the  Legislature,  also 
Assistant  Gov.  of  the  colony 

Howland  house  built  about  1667,  owned  by  Jabez  Howland  (son 
of  John)  in  1669,  while  John  was  living,  so  it  is  fair  to  assume  that 
John  lived  there  or  at  least  visited  in  the  above  house. 

Jabez  sold  to  Watson. 

Watson  sold  to  Stephen  Churchill,  1707. 

Churchill  sold  to  Judge  J.  Thomas. 

Thomas  sold  to  Nathaniel  Carver. 

Carver  sold  to  James  Sherman,  1867. 

Sherman  sold  to  Barnabas  Holmes,  1883. 

Holmes  sold  to  Helen  R.  Holmes,  1883. 

An  association  formed  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  the  house 
is  now  proposing  to  buy  it  from  the  present  owners. 

1.  JOHN  HOWLAND,  born  in  England  1592  died  at  Plymouth  on 
February  23,  1673,  was  married  at  Plymouth  to  Elizabeth  Tilley 
1623,  who  died  at  Swansea  on  December  2,  1687.  Their  daughter 
was 

2.  DESIRE  HOWLAND,  born  at  Plymouth  1624,  died  at  Barn¬ 
stable  on  Oct.  13,  1683,  married  at  Plymouth  in  1643  to  Capt. 


12 


John  Gorham,  born  at  Benefield,  England,  in  1620,  died  at 
Swansea  on  February  5,  1675.  Their  son  was — 

3.  LIEUT.  COL.  JOHN  GORHAM,  born  at  Marshfield  on  Febru¬ 
ary  20,  1655  or  1662,  died  at  Barnstable  on  Dec.  9,  1716,  married 
at  Barnstable  on  February  16,  1674,  to  Mercy  Otis,  born  at  King- 
ham  on  Mar.  14,  1652  or  3,  died  at  Barnstable  on  April  1,  1733. 
Their  son  was — 

4.  COL.  SHUBAEL  GORHAM,  born  at  Barnstable  on  Sept.  2,  1686, 
died  at  Barnstable  in  1746,  married  at  Barnstable  Dec.  23,  1708 
to  Mar)7  Thatcher,  born  at  Barnstable  on  Feb.  5,  1686-7,  died  at 
Barnstable  on  June  28,  1778.  Their  son  was — 

5.  COL.  JOHN  GORHAM,  born  at  Barnstable  on  Dec.  12,  1709, 
died  at  London  in  1750,  married  to  Elizabeth  Allyn,  Mar.  2,  1731, 
born  1713,  died  at  Gloucester  on  Dec.  25,  1786.  Their  daughter 
was — 


6.  ELIZABETH  GORHAM,  born  at  Barnstable  on  Dec.  10,  1739, 
died  at  Gloucester,  on  March  14,  1769,  married  at  Gloucester 
Nov.  6  1759  to  Daniel  Rogers,  born  at  Kittery,  Maine,  on  Octo¬ 
ber  25,  1734,  died  at  Gloucester  on  Jan.  4,  1800.  Their  daugh¬ 
ter  was — 

7.  LUCY  ROGERS,  born  at  Gloucester  on  Aug.  26,  1760,  died  at 
Gloucester  on  Feb.  7,  1793,  married  at  Gloucester,  Nov.  25,  1779, 
to  John  Low,  Jr.  born  at  Gloucester  Sept.  1,  1754,  died  at 
Gloucester,  Feb.  10,  1801.  Their  daughter  was — 

8.  ELIZABETH  GORHAM  LOW,  born  Feb.  4,  1786,  died  1861. 
Married  Nathaniel  Babson,  ship  master,  Nov.  1809. 


13 


GORHAM  FAMILY 


James  Gorham  (married  1572). 

Ralph  Gorham  (resided  Benefield,  England). 

Capt.  John  Gorham  (1620=1675). 

Lt.  Col.  John  Gorham,  1652-1716. 

Col.  Shubael  Gorham,  1686-1746. 

Col.  John  Gorham,  1709-1750. 

Elizabeth  Gorham,  1739-1769,  married  Dan  Rogers. 

Lucy  Rogers,  1760-1793,  married  John  Low,  Jr. 

« 

Elizabeth  Gorham  Low,  1786-1862,  married  Nathaniel 
Babson. 

Gustavus  Babson,  1820-1897. 

Ann  Prentiss  Babson,  married  Chas.  S.  Ailing. 

Robert  Babson  Ailing. 

The  numerous  Gorham  families  in  New  England  all  trace  their 
ancestry  to  captain  John1  Gorham  who  was  born  in  Benefield,  England, 
and  baptised  there  January  28,  1620.  Ele  came  to  Plymouth  in  1635 
with  his  father  in  the  brig  'Phillip”  commanded  by  Captain  Richard 
Morgan. 

The  Gorhams  trace  their  descent  to  the  Gorrams  of  Brittany,  as 
far  back  as  the  beginning  of  the  12th  Century.  The  remains  of  the 
Chateau  de  Gorram  built  in  1199,  may  still  be  seen  about  20  miles 
from  Mayence,  in  the  Province  of  Maine.  The  site  of  an  earlier  one 
now  occupied  by  a  church,  is  shown  at  la  Tanniere. 

Giles  de  Gorham  took  the  cross  from  the  hands  of  William 
Bishop  of  Mans,  in  company  with  Geoffrey,  son  of  Junell  II,  Lord  of 
Mayenne,  and  138  other  knights  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary  of  Mayenne 
A.  D.  1158.  He  returned  with  only  35,  and  it  is  supposed  he  made 
grants  of  lands  in  la  Tanniere  in  pious  acknowledgment  of  his 
preservation  from  the  infidels. 

Some  of  the  family  followed  the  Conqueror  into  England. 
Geoffrey  de  Gorham  was  descended  from  a  noble  family  of  Cain 


14 


Normandy  and  was  the  16th  Abbot  of  St.  Albans,  Hertfordshire, 
elected  A.  D.  1119.  He  built  the  first  Manor  House  in  Gorhamburg 
Park  and  his  tomb  is  in  St.  Alban’s  Cathedral.  Several  of  the  family 
removed  to  England  in  the  11th  century,  and  many  of  the  name  were 
men  of  note. 

James  Gorham  of  Benefield,  Northamptonshire,  England,  married 
in  1572  Agnes  Berham,  and  their  son  Ralph,  born  in  1575  came  to 
Plymouth  in  1635,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  those  of  the  name  in  this 
country.  Little  is  known  of  Ralph  Gorham  or  his  family.  The  birth 
of  his  son  John  is  recorded,  and  he  probably  had  other  children, 
evidently  a  son  Ralph,  born  in  England,  for  he  is  called,  March  4,  1639-9 
"the  elder”  showing  that  there  were  then  two  persons  of  that  name  in 
Plymouth.  It  is  probable  that  when  Ralph  Gorham  died  in  1643,  he  left 
no  widow  and  an  only  son  John,  who  inherited  his  property.  This  is  in¬ 
ferred  from  the  fact  that  no  settlement  of  his  estate  appears  on  the 
records- — none  was  required  if  he  had  only  one  heir  and  he  of  legal 
age.  During  the  seventeenth  century,  besides  John  and  his  descendants, 
no  other  persons  of  the  name  of  Gorham  are  mentioned  as  residents 
of  the  Colony. 

CAPT.  JOHN1  GORHAM,  1620-1675.  Of  the  early  life  of  John 
little  is  known.  He  had  a  good  common  school  education,  was  brought 
up  in  the  Puritan  faith,  and  during  life  was  a  consistent  and  exemplary 
Christian.  He  probably  served  an  apprenticeship  with  a  tanner  and 
currier  of  leather,  working  at  that  business  in  the  winter  and  following 
some  other  business  in  the  summer.  At  an  early  age  he  had  to  rely  on 
himself — a  young  man  in  a  strange  land,  with  no  family  associations 
to  sustain  him  and  little  wealth  to  aid  him  in  the  pursuit  of  the  business 
of  life.  However,  he  was  an  honest  boy  and  he  grew  up  an  honest  man, 
and  his  descendants  have  inherited  not  only  his  good  name  but  gen¬ 
erally  this  trait  of  his  character.  In  1643  he  married  Desire  Howland 
(born  1624)  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Howland,  who  came 
over  in  the  Mayflower,  one  of  the  first  born  in  Plymouth,  a  pattern  of 
good  works 

In  1652  Capt.  John1  Gorham  removed  to  Yarmouth  and  bought  a 
farm.  His  greatest  service  to  the  colonies  was  during  King  Phillip’s 


15 


War  and  it  was  largely  through  his  efforts  that  the  Narragansetts 
were  crushed.  He  served  throughout  the  campaign  and  fought  in  all 
the  battles.  Capt.  Gorham  never  recovered  from  the  cold  and  fatigue 
to  which  he  was  exposed  on  this  expedition.  He  was  seized  with  a  fever 
and  died  at  Swansea,  where  he  was  buried  February  5,  1675,  age  54. 
His  children  were  as  follows: 

James  (the  richest  man  in  Barnstable  in  1703). 

John  (see  below) . 

Joseph  (served  in  the  militia) . 

Jabez  (was  ancestor  of  family  in  Rhode  Island) . 

Shubael  (a  successful  business  man) . 

Desire — -married  Capt.  John  Hawes. 

Temperance — married  (1)  Edw.  Struges  (2)  Thomas  Baxter. 

Lydia — married  Col.  John  Thatcher. 

LT.  COL.  JOHN2  GORHAM,  JR.  (1652-1716)  was  born  at 
Marshfield  Aug.  2,  1652.  He  was  the  second  son  of  Capt.  John1 
Gorham  and  was  brought  up  in  the  tanning  trade.  In  wealth  he  ranked 
next  to  his  brother  James,  who  was  the  richest  man  in  Barnstable.  He 
was  a  man  of  influence,  and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  was 
almost  constantly  employed  in  the  public  service.  He  was  with  his 
father  in  King  Phillip’s  War,  served  as  Captain  in  Sir  Wm.  Phipp’s 
Canada  Expedition  in  1690,  and  subsequently  was  made  Lieut.  Col.  of 
the  militia.  He  died  Dec.  9,  1716.  On  Feb.  16,  1674,  Lt  Col.  John2 
Gorham,  Jr.,  was  married  at  Barnstable  to  Mary  DeMercy  Otis  (born 
Mar.  14,  1652)  daughter  of  John  Otis  of  Hingham.  She  died  April  1, 
1733.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 

Temperance  (married  Stephen  Clapp — their  son  Thomas  was 

president  of  Yale  1740-1764) . 

Mary — married  Joseph  Henckley. 

Thankful — married  Lt.  John  Fuller. 

Mercy — married  Col.  Sylvanus  Bourne  (a  wealthy  merchant) . 

Stephan — married  Elizabeth  Gardner. 

Shubael — see  below. 

Benjamin. 

2  other  children. 


16 


COL.  SHUBAEL1  GORHAM  (1686-1746),  the  second  son  of 
Lt.  Col.  John2  Gorham,  was  born  Sept.  2,  1686.  At  the  age  of  twenty, 
on  the  13th  of  May,  1707,  he  sailed  with  the  forces  under  Colonel  John 
March,  from  Nantasket,  in  the  Expedition  against  Port  Royal  with 
the  rank  of  Ensign  in  Captain  Caleb  Williamson’s  Company  of  Barn¬ 
stable.  His  military  career  closed  with  his  services  at  Louisburg  in  1745. 
He  was  commissioned  "Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Massachusetts  Regi¬ 
ment  and  Captain  of  the  First  Company"  Feb.  20,  1744.  The  great 
act  of  his  life,  that  for  which  he  will  ever  be  remembered,  is  the  active 
and  efficient  part  which  he  took  in  obtaining  the  grants  made 
by  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
the  Narragansett  country  in  King  Phillip’s  War,  or  to  their  lawful 
representatives.  He  spent  much  time  and  money  in  promoting  the 
settlement  of  the  town  of  Gorham,  but  his  speculations  in  wild  land 
proved  unfortunate.  He  married  Mary  Thatcher  (born  February  2, 
1686)  on  December  23,  1708.  They  had  10  children.  He  died  in 
Barnstable  in  1746  and  she  lived  to  be  92  years  old,  dying  June  28,  1778. 

COL.  JOHN3  GORHAM  (1709-1750)  the  oldest  son  of  the  above 
was  a  distinguished  officer  in  the  colonial  forces  during  the  later  French 
Wars.  He  lived  at  Barnstable  till  1742,  then  at  Portland  and  at  one 
time  lived  in  Gorham  where  he  built  the  first  mills  and  was  a  large 
land  owner.  In  1749  he  was  living  in  Boston.  As  Captain  of  a  Com¬ 
pany  of  Indian  Rangers  at  Annapolis,  he  acquired  considerable  fame. 
On  Nov.  9,  1744,  Governor  Shirley  reported  to  the  Duke  of  Bedford 
that  the  French  officer  Divier  had  retreated  from  before  Annapolis, 
upon  Captain  Gorham’s  arrival  with  his  company  of  Indian  rangers 
from  New  England  and  that  Gorham  had  so  used  his  command  that 
the  garrison  was  not  entirely  free  from  alarm. 

In  1745,  Capt.  Gorham  was  sent  from  Annapolis  to  Boston  to 
raise  troops  and  while  there  was  induced  to  join  the  expedition  then 
fitting  out  against  Cape  Breton.  He  was  appointed  Lieut.  Colonel  of 
the  Seventh  Massachusetts  Regiment,  commanded  by  his  father,  Col. 
Shubael1  Gorham,  and  on  the  death  of  his  father  at  Louisburg  was 
promoted  by  Governor  Pepperell  to  be  a  full  Colonel.  After  the 


17 


capture  of  Louisburg  he  returned  to  Annapolis  and  was  placed  by 
Governor  Shirley  in  command  of  the  Boston  troops. 

The  following  letter,  copied  from  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society’s  archives,  is  one  of  several  written  by  him  to  Sir  William 
Pepprell : 


"In  the  Camp,  May  7,  1745. 

Hon.  Sir: — I  beg  the  party  from  the  grand  battery  may  be  as 
private  as  possible  in  getting  their  boats  ready  and  cannot  be  willing 
to  proceed  without  Shaw,  to  be  my  pilot.  If  he  is  not  come  by  land 
should  choose  to  send  a  boat  for  him  immediately  and  also  the  city 
may  have  as  warm  a  fire  as  we  can  give  them  in  different  places,  until 
one  o’clock  or  two  and  then  a  cessation  until  they  hear  us  engaged. 
Hope  to  have  all  ready,  Pray  send  Shaw. 

Sir,  your  most  obedient,  Humble  servant, 

John  Gorham." 

In  July,  1749,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Governor’s  Council  in 
Nova  Scotia.  His  brother  Joseph  was  a  Lieutenant  of  Rangers  under 
Governor  Cornwallis  in  1749,  and  later  held  the  rank  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  in  the  regular  army. 

In  1749,  Colonel  John3  Gorham  was  sent  to  England  to  explain 
the  state  of  military  affairs  in  the  colonies.  Governor  Shirley,  in  a 
letter  written  to  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  Oct.  13,  1749,  says, 

"Captain  Gorham’s  activity  and  usefulness  in  his  Majesty’s  ser¬ 
vice,  I  cannot  too  much  commend  to  your  grace.” 

While  in  England,  he  attempted  to  obtain  reimbursement  for 
his  expenditures  at  the  time  of  the  capture  of  Louisburg.  This,  in 
some  cases  was  not  received  by  their  heirs  until  half  a  century  later. 
It  was  during  his  stay  in  England  that  Colonel  Gorham  and  his  wife 
were  presented  at  the  Court  of  St.  James.  In  1750,  he  succumbed  to 
smallpox. 

Col.  Gorham  married  Elizabeth  Allyn  (born  1713) ,  a  very  talented 
and  attractive  girl,  on  March  2,  1731.  After  he  died  in  London  she 


18 


returned  to  Gloucester  and  married  Col.  John  Stevens  in  1775.  She 
died  at  the  age  of  73,  December  25,  1786. 

Col.  Gorham  and  Elizabeth  Allyn  had  15  children.  One  of  their 
children  was  born  on  a  vessel  bound  to  Cape  Cod  and  was  named 
"Sea  Deliverance." 

ELIZABETH  GORHAM,  daughter  of  Col.  John3  Gorham  was 
born  in  Barnstable  December  10,  1739,  and  married  Daniel  Rogers 
of  Gloucester,  November  6,  1759.  Her  portrait  was  painted  by  Copley 
(see  below).  She  died  March  14,  1769,  age  30. 

THE  "ELIZABETH  GORHAM"  PORTRAIT 

While  Elizabeth  Gorham  wife  of  Daniel  Rogers  lived  in  Glou¬ 
cester  a  portrait  was  painted  of  her  by  the  famous  artist,  Copley, 
who  was  bom  in  Boston  1738  and  who  died  in  1810.  He  was  the  Court 
painter  of  his  day  and  went  to  Rome  in  1774.  The  picture  was  painted 
by  Copley  in  1762  when  Elizabeth  was  23.  She  died  in  1769.  Elizabeth 
Gorham  was  born  in  the  old  Gorham  house  now  standing  in  Barnstable. 

This  portrait  went  to  Charles  Rogers.  He  died  of  consumption 
and  as  Elizabeth  (wife  of  David  Low)  was  kind  to  him  in  his  last 
sickness,  Charles  gave  the  portrait  to  her.  At  her  death,  the  portrait 
went  to  David  Low  her  husband.  He  let  his  son  David  take  it  to 
Boston  about  1830.  When  David,  Jr.,  went  to  France  for  his  health 
he  sent  the  portrait  back  to  Gloucester.  Gorham  P.  Low  expected  to 
have  the  portrait  as  he  owned  three  parts  beside  his  own.  However, 
Nathaniel  Babson,  as  executor  of  Miss  Mary  Low’s  estate  became 
custodian  of  the  portrait.  He  allowed  it  to  be  sold  at  auction,  the 
descendants  only  allowed  to  bid.  Miss  Louisa  Low  a  great  grand¬ 
daughter  bought  the  portrait  for  $1450.00.  It  is  now  in  Stamford, 
Connecticut. 

LUCY  ROGERS,  oldest  daughter  of  the  above  was  born  August 
24,  1760,  and  married  John4  Low,  Jr.,  on  November  25,  1779.  She 
died  February  7,  1793,  at  Gloucester.  (See  Low  Line  for  continuation.) 

MISCELLANEOUS  GORHAM  NOTES 

Below  is  a  copy  of  an  interesting  letter  written  by  Capt.  John1 
Gorham  of  Barnstable,  Mass.,  to  Governor  Winslow  of  Massachusetts, 
from  "Mass.  Archives"  Vol.  67,  page  278,  at  State  House: 


19 


"Mendum,  Oct.  1,  1675. 

Much  Honored: 

My  service  with  all  due  respect  humbly  present  to  yourself  and 
unto  the  rest  of  the  Council  hoping  of  your  health,  I  have  made  bold 
to  trouble  you  with  these  few  lines  to  give  your  honors  an  account 
of  our  progress  in  your  jurisdiction.  According  unto  your  honors  order 
and  determination,  I  arrived  at  Mendum  with  fifty  men  and  the  next 
day  Lieut.  Upham  arrived  with  thirty-eight  men  and  the  day  follow¬ 
ing  we  joined  our  forces  together  and  marched  in  pursuit  to  find  our 
enemy,  but  God  hath  been  pleased  to  deny  us  any  opportunity  therein: 
though  with  much  labor  and  travel  we  had  endeavored  to  find  them 
out,  which  Lieut.  Upham  hath  given  you  a  more  particular  account. 

Our  soldiers  being  much  worn,  but  having  been  in  the  field  this  four¬ 
teen  weeks  and  little  hopes  of  finding  the  enemy,  we  are  this  day 
returning  towards  our  General,  'but  as  for  my  own  part  1  shall  be 
ready  to  serve  God  and  the  country  in  this  just  war  so  long  as  l  have 
life  and  health'  not  else  to  trouble  you,  I  rest  yours  to  serve  in  what 
I  am  able.  JOHN  GORHAM.” 

The  part  printed  in  italics  has  been  cut  upon  the  monument  which 
was  erected  in  Gorham,  Maine,  to  the  memory  of  Capt.  John1  Gorham 
and  his  Company  of  soldiers.  The  town  itself  was  named  for  Capt. 
John1  Gorham. 


It  is  a  tradition  that  the  uplifted  arm  on  the  great  seal  of  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  was  taken  from  the  Gorham  coat  of  arms. 
Susan  Babson  wrote  (Nov.  21,  1928)  : 

The  tradition  that  the  Gorhams  gave  to  Massachusetts  the  up¬ 
lifted  arm  on  the  State  seal  is  authentic  for  in  a  pamphlet  that  I  have  on 
the  Gorhams  it  says  a  knight  in  armor  was  on  the  original  seal.  In  later 
years  their  shield  had  the  laurel  wreath  showing  that  when  they  gave 
the  uplifted  arm  to  Massachusetts,  they  substituted  this  laurel  wreath. 

I  have  an  impression  of  this  latter  seal.” 


According  to  the  Hyannis  Patriot,  Jan.  15,  1895,  there  were 
thirty  Gorhams  engaged  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 


20 


David,  son  of  Shubael1  Gorham  (1686-1746)  was  also  a  soldier 
at  the  siege  of  Louisburg,  in  1745  and  performed  other  military  service. 
He  was  also  Registrar  of  Probate  for  many  years;  he  also  attained  the 
rank  of  Colonel  in  the  Militia.  His  son,  William  Gorham  of  Gorham, 
Maine,  was  prominent  in  the  Revolution,  and  afterward  held  office  of 
Judge  of  Probate  and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

Joseph,  another  son  of  Shubael1  Gorham,  was  at  Louisburg,  and 
in  1749  Lieutenant  of  Rangers,  being  raised  to  Major  in  1760,  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  in  1771.  In  1766  he  became  one  of  the  Council  of 
Nova  Scotia,  and  for  many  years  was  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Placentia, 
Newfoundland.  He  also  had  great  influence  over  the  Micmac  Indians 
in  Nova  Scotia. 


21 


ROGERS  FAMILY 


Rev.  John  Rogers  (died  1636)  of  Dedham,  England,  married 
Elizabeth  Gold 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Rogers,  1598-1655,  married  Margaret  Crane, 
lived  in  Ipswich 

Rev.  John  Rogers,  1630-1684,  married  Elizabeth  Denison. 
President  of  Harvard 

Rev.  John  Rogers,  1666-1745,  married  Martha  Whitingham. 

Rev.  John  Rogers,  1692-1773,  married  Susannah  Whipple. 
Minister  in  Kittery 

Rev.  John  Rogers,  1719-1782,  son  of  Rev.  John  and  Susannah 
(Whipple)  Rogers.  Married  three  times.  Children  by  Mary 
Ellery. 

William  Rogers,  1758-1832,  married  Elizabeth  Low, 
daughter  of  Col.  John  Low. 

Rev.  Isaac  Rogers,  son  of  William,  1758-1832,  born 
1795,  died  1872.  (See  letters  and  notes  at  end 
of  Rogers  Family  story.) 

Ann  Rogers,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Rogers  and  Mary 
Ellery,  born  October  23,  1754,  married  William 
Babson,  born  1749. 

Nathaniel  Babson,  1784-1836,  married  Elizabeth 
Gorham  Low,  1786-1862. 

Gustavus  Babson,  1820-1897. 

Ann  Prentiss  Babson 

Robert  Babson  Ailing  and  his  sisters, 
Elizabeth  and  Margaret 

Daniel  Rogers,  1734-1800,  brother  of  Rev.  John  Rogers,  1719-1782. 
Married  Elizabeth  Gorham. 

Lucy  Rogers,  1760-1793,  married  John  Low,  Jr. 


22 


REVEREND  JOHN  ROGERS,  THE  MARTYR 


The  Rogers  family  was  one  the  prominent  ones  of  early  Massa¬ 
chusetts.  It  is  claimed  that  the  line  descended  from  the  martyr  John 
Rogers  who  was  burned  to  the  stake  by  Bloody  Mary  in  1555.  While 
it  cannot  be  disproved  it  cannot  be  authenticated.  At  the  end  of  the 
story  of  the  Rogers  Family  is  a  letter  from  Rev.  John  Vinton  to  Rev. 
Isaac  Rogers  which  may  or  may  not  be  taken  seriously. 

REV.  JOHN  ROGERS,  the  martyr,  1500-1555,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  English  Reformation:  Burned  to  the  stake  by  Queen  Mary,  Feb. 
4,  1555.  Assisted  William  Tyndale  and  Miles  Coverdale  in  introducing 
in  1537  the  first  complete  edition  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 
It  was  revised  by  Rogers  alone  under  the  name  of  Thomas  Mathew 
after  Tyndale  was  burned  to  the  stake  in  1536,  and  known  as  Mathew’s 
Bible.  He  was  high  in  favor  during  the  short  reign  of  Edward  VI. 
After  Edward’s  death  in  1552,  Mary  came  to  the  throne  and  all 
Protestant  church  men  were  ousted  and  Catholics  put  in  their  place. 
Queen  Mary  was  not  satisfied  till  they  had  all  been  put  out  of  the  way, 
so  John  Rogers  perished  at  the  stake  on  February  4,  1555.  The 
original  portrait  of  him  is  in  the  hall  of  the  Antiquarian  Society  at 
Worcester.  John  Rogers  had  10  children,  only  two  of  whom  are 
known. 

REV.  RICHARD  ROGERS-DANIEL  ROGERS.  Richard  was 
educated  at  Cambridge  and  became  a  great  preacher.  Suffered  for  non¬ 
conformity,  was  living  in  1612.  In  ministry  for  40  years.  Exact  time 
of  death  not  known.  Published  several  books. 

REV.  JOHN1  ROGERS  (died  1636).  It  is  alleged  that  he  was 
the  grandson  of  the  Martyr.  The  name  of  his  father  is  unknown.  He 
was  a  nephew  of  Richard  Rogers  and  was  a  great  preacher  and  author 
of  several  books.  His  exposition  of  the  1st  Epistle  of  Peter  contains 
his  portrait,  died  1636.  (His  portrait  was  sent  from  England  to  this 
country  in  1905  nearly  three  centuries  after  his  death  and  is  in  posses- 


23 


sion  of  Mr.  John  Rogers  Elliott,  a  poet  of  Kittery,  Maine.)  Contempo¬ 
raries  called  him  "The  Most  noted  Puritan  in  all  England.” 

Note :  The  story  thus  far  is  not  accepted  by  all  authors.  It  is 
authentic  from  here  on,  however 


NATHANIEL1  ROGERS  1598-1655,  second  son  of  the  above 
married  Margaret  Crane  and  migrated  to  Ipswich,  Mass.,  1636,  died 
July  3,  1655.  Educated  at  Emanuel  College  and  greatly  beloved  in 
Ipswich.  He  had  "eminent  learning,  singular  piety  and  holy  zeal  and 
his  auditory  were  his  epistle  seen  and  read  of  all  who  knew  them.” 
He  was  subject  among  other  infirmities  to  hypocondriacism,  which 
produced  great  depression,  but  his  death  was  calm,  his  last  words 
being  "My  times  are  in  thy  hands.”  Cotton  Mather  called  him  "One 
of  the  greatest  men  who  ever  set  foot  on  the  American  strand.” 

REV.  JOHN2  ROGERS,  1630-1684,  the  Fifth  President  of 
Harvard  College  was  born  in  Coggoshall  in  Essex,  England,  January 
11,  1630.  He  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel1  Rogers  and  Margaret  Crane. 
Came  to  New  England  with  his  father  in  1636  and  graduated  from 
Harvard  in  1649.  He  studied  divinity  and  medicine  as  was  customary 
at  that  time,  and  was  associated  with  his  father,  a  Mr.  Cobbet  and 
Mr.  Hubbard.  Though  he  did  some  preaching  he  was  never  an  ordained 
minister.  He  was  the  principal  physician  in  Ipswich,  and  took  special 
charge  of  the  Thursday  lecture  while  the  others  took  charge  of  the 
concerns  of  the  Parish.  His  salary  as  Minister  was  small,  but  as  he  was 
otherwise  employed  as  the  Principal  Physician  in  Ipswich  and  vicinity, 
he  was  able  to  meet  expenses. 

In  June,  1776,  he  was  unanimously  chosen  President  of  Harvard 
College,  but  declined  the  offer.  When  President  Oakes  who  had 
taken  the  position  died  in  1682,  he  was  again  chosen  and  accepted. 
He  was  inaugurated  on  April  10th,  1682,  but  died  suddenly  the  day 
following  Commencement,  July  2,  1684.  The  duties  of  Office  as 
President  probably  hastened  his  end.  Apparently  he  was  cut  off  while 
his  usefulness  was  bright  and  full  of  promise.  He  was  a  man  of  very 
sweet  disposition  and  it  was  said  of  him  that  his  sincere  piety  set  off 


24 


with  the  accomplishments  of  a  gentleman,  was  like  a  gem  set  in  gold. 
He  was  a  prolific  writer,  inclined  towards  poetry. 

He  was  buried  in  the  old  burying  ground  in  Cambridge.  The 
following  epitaph  on  his  headstone  gives  evidence  that  he  was  loved 
and  respected  as  a  many  sided  man  far  above  the  ordinary: 

"A  treasury  of  benevolence,  a  storehouse  of  theologic  learning,  a 
library  of  the  choicest  literature,  a  living  system  of  medicine,  an  em¬ 
bodiment  of  integrity,  a  depository  of  faith,  a  pattern  of  Christian 
sympathy,  a  garner  of  all  virtues.” 

This  epitaph  is  alleged  to  have  been  written  by  Cotton  Mather. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Dennison,  only  daughter  of  General  Daniel 
Dennison  and  granddaughter  of  Governor  Dudley.  She  died  June 
13,  1733.  (See  Dudley  Dennison  line.) 

REV.  JOHN3  ROGERS,  1666-1745,  son  of  preceding  was  born 
July  7,  1666,  died  Dec.  28,  1745,  in  the  80th  year  of  his  age  from  a 
stroke  of  paralysis.  "His  old  age  was  not  infirm  and  decrepid,  but 
robust,  active  and  useful,  whereby  he  was  enabled  to  labor  in  word 
and  doctrine  to  the  last  and  to  quit  the  stage  in  action."  £200  O-T 
was  voted  by  the  parish  for  his  funeral  expenses.  He  married  Martha 
Wittingham,  March  4,  1690.  In  1726  Mr.  Rogers  writes  to  his  people, 
that  he  had  lost  so  much  by  having  his  salary  in  depreciated  bills  he 
had  sold  a  portion  of  his  estate  and  mortgaged  the  remainder  to  make 
up  the  deficiency  for  the  maintenance  of  his  family.  He  had  said 
nothing  to  his  parish  about  his  condition  as  he  wished  to  live  in  love 
with  them  and  die  in  peace.  The  parish  immediately  voted  him  £100 
to  discharge  the  mortgage  and  £40  to  repair  his  house. 

REV.  JOHN4  ROGERS  (1692-1773)  son  of  preceding  was  a 
minister  of  Kittery,  Maine,  now  Eliot.  He  was  born  in  Ipswich,  1692, 
graduated  at  Harvard,  1711,  married  Susanna  Whipple  of  Ipswich, 
ordained  Oct.  25,  1721.  They  had  nine  children-- 


25 


John  1719-1782. 

Timothy,  died  1766. 

William. 

Catherine. 

Nathaniel. 

Martha. 

Daniel  1734-1800. 

Mary. 

REV.  JOHN5  ROGERS  (1719-1782)  graduated  from  Harvard 
1739.  First  and  only  Pastor  of  the  4th  Parish  Church  on  the  * 'Green.” 
He  had  a  hard  pastorate  taking  his  flock  through  the  perils  of  the 
Revolution  and  at  the  end  of  the  war  he  was  worn  out  with  debts  and 
nervous  troubles.  He  prayed  to  have  an  easy  passage  through  the 
valley  of  death  and  his  prayer  was  answered.  Getting  up  from  the 
table  in  our  house  where  he  had  been  dining  (sitting  room  I  think) 
he  leaned  his  head  on  his  cane  and  when  they  went  to  him,  found  he 
had  died  without  a  struggle.  He  was  married  three  times  — 

1.  Susanna  Allen. 

2.  Mary  Ellery. 

3.  Abigail  Woodward, 
children  by  Mary  Ellery. 

Anne — married  William  Babson. 

John. 

William  Rogers — married  Elizabeth  Low  (daughter  of  Col.  John 
Low) . 

and  other  children. 

ANN  ROGERS  (1754-  )  daughter  of  Rev.  John5  Rogers 

1719-1782  and  Mary  Ellery,  married  William1  Babson  April  17,  1777. 
(See  Babson  Line.) 


The  following  line  is  listed  to  show  where  Rev.  Isaac  Rogers 
came  in — 

WILLIAM  ROGERS  (Brother  of  Ann  Rogers)  married  Elizabeth 
Low,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Low  (See  Low  family).  Their  Children 
were 


26 


Mary. 

Betsy. 

Catherine. 

John  Low. 

George  Low. 

Isaac. 

When  I  got  the  letter  written  by  the  Rev.  John  Vinton  to  Rev. 
Isaac  Rogers,  I  wrote  to  Aunt  Susie  as  to  where  Isaac  Rogers  came 
in.  This  is  what  she  wrote  regarding  him: 

"Isaac  Rogers  was  the  youngest  son  of  William  Rogers,  brother 
of  Ann  Rogers,  who  married  William  Babson.  In  other  words,  he  was  a 
first  cousin  of  my  Grandfather  Nathaniel  Babson.  His  two  older 
brothers,  John  Low  Rogers  and  George  Low  Rogers  were  very  capable 
sea  captains  but  he  wasn’t  exactly  of  their  build  and  learnt  a  printers 
trade.  While  setting  type  for  the  New  Testament  he  had  a  religious 
experience  which  caused  him  to  study  for  the  Ministry.  It  was  custo¬ 
mary  at  that  time  I  think  to  settle  for  life.  At  all  events  he  had  only 
this  one  pastorate,  Farmington,  Maine,  married,  lived  and  died  there, 
attending  to  all  the  intimate  relations  incidental  to  his  ministry  and 
was  much  beloved  by  them.  He  was  called  Father  Rogers  and  after  he 
died  they  got  out  an  "In  Memoriam”  which  I  have.  He  had  no  chil¬ 
dren,  and  his  wife  dying  before  him  he  was  tenderly  cared  for  by  a 
housekeeper  to  whom  he  left  what  little  property  he  had.  He  made  oc¬ 
casional  visits  to  Gloucester  and  I  remember  him  quite  well.  He  was 
generally  asked  to  preach  much  to  the  discomfiture  of  his  immediate 
connections.  One  of  his  peculiarities  was  carrying  a  large  silk  bandana 
handkerchief  which  he  draped  over  the  pulpit.  I  remember  that  on  one 
occasion  he  said  in  his  prayer  'O  Lord  thou  has  grievously  afflicted  this 
congregation  since  I  was  here  before,  one  has  gone  and  another’  re¬ 
peating  'another  O  Lord’  as  each  one  who  had  died  came  to  his  mind — 
there  were  a  good  many  of  them  and  the  congregation  were  convulsed. 

"I  well  remember  the  last  time  he  visited  us — we  all  were  over¬ 
come  with  laughter  at  his  blessing — Mother  as  well.  After  dinner  she 
took  him  to  Joe  Butler’s  mother’s  funeral.  He  was  asked  to  speak  and 
began  by  saying,  ’I  don’t  know  as  I  remember  this  particular  corpse  that 
lies  before  me,  but  I  used  to  drive  cows  before  this  house  when  I  was  a 
boy.’  Then  followed  personal  reminiscences  which  much  entertained 
his  audience.  He  took  cold  on  this  trip,  went  home  and  died. 


27 


"A  story  father  delighted  to  tell  was  that  on  one  occasion  he  said 
'Well  Isaac,  I  suppose  you  have  more  land  down  there  than  you  can 
cultivate?’  'Oh  yes,’  was  his  reply,  but  I  prefer  to  visit  round 
among  my  parishioners  and  taste  their  goodies.’  He  was  very  human 
and  not  deeply  endowed  with  the  doctrines  of  his  day,  I  guess,  for  he 
used  to  make  fun  of  his  sister  Catherine  who  was  considered  unduly 
'pious’.  (Catherine  married  a  man  named  Allen  of  Waldoboro, 
Maine,  and  left  descendants.)” 

DANIEL  ROGERS  (1734-1800),  seventh  son  of  Rev.  John4 
Rogers,  1692-1773  and  brother  of  Rev.  John  Rogers  (4th  Parish) 
was  born  in  Kittery,  Maine,  October  25,  1734.  On  Nov.  6,  1759,  he 
married  Elizabeth  Gorham,  daughter  of  Col.  John3  Gorham  of  Barns¬ 
table.  In  1762  Copley  painted  a  life  size  portrait  of  Elizabeth  Gorham 
(See  Gorham  Line  for  complete  story).  He  came  to  Gloucester  when 
a  young  man,  became  a  merchant  and  accumulated  a  fortune.  Aunt 
Susan  Babson  says  of  him  He  was  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of 
Gloucester  and  used  to  send  out  fishing  vessels,  and  also  traded  in 
the  West  Indies  and  Southern  ports.  The  ships  coming  back  after 
successful  trips,  he  would  invite  them  all  to  his  house  for  a  party.  They 
used  to  sample  the  refreshments  that  they  brought  back  with  them. 
Got  quite  happy  artificially  and  would  walk  up  and  down  the  middle 
of  the  table.  I  don’t  know  what  became  of  the  dishes.  He  actually  had 
twenty-one  children  by  his  two  wives,  Elizabeth  Gorham  and  Rachael 
Ellery  and  almost  all  of  them  grew  up.  It  is  said  he  gave  them  a  house 
at  marriage.  The  story  of  the  Porringer  perhaps  belongs  to  him. 
His  youngest  child,  Aunt  Fanny,  I  remember  quite  well,  as  she  used 
to  live  in  the  house  where  Uncle  Nat  lived  when  he  first  went  to 
housekeeping.  I  have  a  photograph  of  him  and  have  seen  original 
pastels  of  him  and  his  second  wife.  On  thing  more  that  is  of  interest 
and  that  is  when  the  French  claims  were  finally  settled  about  eighteen 
years  ago  all  of  his  descendents  received  more  or  less  according  to  law. 
My  portion  was  $4.76. 

Below  is  another  story  of  Daniel  Rogers  as  told  by  Aunt  Susie. 

STORY  OF  THE  PORRINGER 

One  of  the  stories  that  has  always  interested  and  amused  me  was 
the  story  of  the  Porringer.  Unfortunately,  I  am  not  as  positive  as  to 


28 


whom  it  belongs  as  I  am  that  of  Joshua  Gee’s  Candle,  and  there  is  no 
one  now  living  who  can  help  me.  To  my  mind,  however,  there  is  no 
question  but  what  it  belongs  to  Daniel  Rogers,  familiarly  known  in 
those  days  as  "D.  R.”  At  any  rate,  it  was  the  story  of  a  clever  girl, 
who  by  marriage  or  otherwise  thwarting  her  father’s  will,  had  incurred 
his  displeasure  and  there  was  an  estrangement  between  them.  He  had 
not  been  to  see  the  new  baby,  nor  had  he  presented  a  porringer,  as  was 
customary  in  well-to-do  families.  It  was  in  the  days  of  open  fireplaces 
when  the  baby’s  drink  or  porridge  had  to  be  heated  over  the  coals,  and 
a  silver  porringer  was  the  proper  utensil  for  use;  hence  the  lack  of 
fatherly  affection  in  not  providing  it.  One  day  as  she  was  looking  out 
of  the  window,  she  saw  her  father  coming  up  the  walk,  and  instead  of 
being  overcome  with  emotion,  as  she  properly  should  have  been,  she 
saw  an  opportunity  not  to  be  passed  up. 

"Run  quick,”  said  she  to  the  nurse,  "put  the  baby’s  porridge  in  a 
tin  dipper  and  place  it  on  the  coals.” 

No  sooner  had  her  father  bridged  over  his  long  absence  by  a  rather 
awkward  meeting  and  had  seated  himself,  than  the  nurse  came  in  with 
the  plebeian  tin  dipper,  which  she  ostentatiously  placed  on  the  coals. 
Never  before  had  a  grandchild  of  his  been  fed  from  a  tin  dipper.  His 
mortification  and  shame  was  complete.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  a 
porringer  was  soon  ordered  and  was  probably  the  means  of  cementing 
the  reconciliation. 


In  the  room  where  I  am  writing  this,  children  of  three  generations 
have  first  opened  their  eyes  to  the  light  of  day,  and  often  times  as  I 
have  looked  upon  the  uncertain  flicker  of  dying  embers  in  the  old  fire¬ 
place,  I  have  fancied  an  old  midwife  hovering  over  the  scattered  coals, 
drawing  them  together  under  a  porringer  to  heat  the  contents  for  an 
impatient  baby. 


He  had  21  children  as  follows: 


Children 

Lucy 

John  Gorham 
Elizabeth 
Charles 
Daniel 
Child  died 


Date  of  Birth 
Aug.  24,  1760 
April  1,  1762 
July  7,  1764 
Oct.  14,  1765 
July  22,  1767 
Feb.  23,  1769 


To  whom  married 

John  Low,  Jr. 
Mercy  Rogers 
David  Low 
Elizabeth  Rogers 


29 


Elizabeth  Gorham  died  March  14,  1769,  and  he  next  married 
Rachael  Ellery,  March  20,  1770. 


Rachael 

Jan.  9,  1771 

Rachael 

Jan.  7,  1772 

Esther 

Nov.  9,  1773 

John  Rowe 

Susanna 

Feb.  22,  1775 

Mary 

Mar.  23,  1777 

Daniel 

Mar.  15,  1778 

Phoebe  Homans 

Timothy 

June  2,  1779 

Clara  Griffin 

Mary 

Sept.  23,  1780 

Tom  Davis 

Samuel 

Dec.  28,  1781 

Lucy  Foster 

Shubael  Gorham 

April  17,  1783 

Mary  Davis 

William 

Nov.  16,  1784 

George 

April  15,  1786 

Judith 

Nov.,  1788 

J.  Rogers,  Jr. 

Rachael 

July,  1789 

Fanny 

1792 

Nat.  Rogers 

Emma  Friend  writes  regarding  the  Rogers  Arms: 

"The  Rogers  Arms  are  Argent,  a  chevron,  gules  between  three  roe¬ 
bucks  passant  sable  attired  and  gorged  with  ducal  coronets  or  Crest: 
On  a  mount,  vest,  a  roebuck,  passant:  proper- attired  and  gorged  with 
a  ducal  coronet  or  between  two  branches  of  laurels  Vert.  Motto:  Nos 
Nostraque  Deo.”  We  and  ours  for  God. 


30 


LOW  FAMILY 


Walter  Low 
Henry  Low 
Capt.  John  Low 
Thomas  Low  (166I-I698) 

Deacon  Thomas  Low  (1632-1712) 

Thomas  Low  (1661-1698) 

John  Low  (1698-?) 

Col.  John  Low  (1728-1796) 

John  Low,  Jr.  (1754-1801)  David  Low  1759-1840 

Elizabeth  Gorham  Low 
m.  Nathaniel  Babson 

Gustavus  Babson  married  Susan  Stanwood  Low 

Ann  Prentiss  Babson  m.  Charles  S.  Ailing 
Robert  Babson  Ailing  m.  Irene  Brown 

David  Low,  —  older  than  Gorham ;  Commander  of  the  Brig 
Falcon,  which  weighed  270  tons.  He  was  born  November  17,  1786 
and  died  in  1826.  He  was  buried  in  Harve,  France.  His  Father,  David 
Low,  was  born  June  1,  1759  and  died  March  28,  1840.  His  mother 
was  Elizabeth  Rogers.  A  portrait  of  David  Low  was  painted  by 
Gilvert  Stuart. 

The  early  Lows  were  as  follows: 

1.  Walter  Low  of  Sherwell,  England — died  1579- 

2.  Henry  Low  of  Isle  of  Wight. 

3.  Capt.  John  Low  of  Ship  Ambrose,  Rear  Admiral  of  Governor  Win- 
throp’s  fleet,  arrived  in  Salem  Harbor,  1630. 

4.  Thomas  Low  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  son  of  Capt.  John,  known  to  have 
been  in  Chebacco  Ranch  as  early  as  1641.  Wife’s  name  Susanna, 
born  in  England,  1605,  died  1677. 


31 


5.  Thomas  Low  of  Ipswich,  born  in  England  about  1632,  married 
Martha  Borem,  July  4,  1660,  died  April  12,  1712,  aged  80.  Was 
Deacon  of  Chebacco  Church. 

6.  Thomas  Low,  born  April  14,  1661,  married  Sarah  Symonds, 
daughter  of  Harlakenden  Symonds,  Dep.  Governor,  December 
2nd,  1687,  came  to  Gloucester  in  1690,  died  Feb.  8,  1698. 

7.  John  Low,  born  in  Gloucester,  Oct.  28,  1698,  married  Mary 
Allen,  daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph  Allen,  January  20,  1726. 

From  here  on  we  know  much  more  of  our  ancestors.  The  second 
son  of  John  Low  is  known  to  his  descendants  as — 

COL.  JOHN3  LOW  1728-1796.  He  was  born  May  17,  1728, 
and  was  married  April  30,  1752,  to  Sarah  Gee,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Joshua  Gee,  of  Old  North  Church,  Boston.  He  was  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens  of  his  time.  He  was  a  large  land  holder  and 
lived  in  a  house  of  the  same  architecture  as  the  Ellery  house,  situated 
on  the  site  of  the  Curtis  green-houses  (corner  Washington  and 
Marsh  Streets).  "He  was  engaged  in  trade  and  fishing  business 
which  was  carried  on  from  Annisquam,  which  before  the  Revo¬ 
lutionary  War  and  even  in  the  early  years  of  the  19th  Century  was 
the  scene  of  great  activity  in  that  line.  In  these  pursuits  he  ac¬ 
quired  property;  and  being  a  man  qualified  by  education,  char¬ 
acter  and  talents  for  public  employment,  the  town  found  in  him, 
at  the  period  of  its  need,  a  ready  and  faithful  servant. 

"In  1775,  he  had  advanced  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
in  the  militia;  and  afterwards  became  a  Colonel,  a  title  which  he 
retained  to  the  end  of  his  life.  He  was  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court  held  in  Watertown,  May  21,  1776;  a  delegate  to  the 
Convention  for  forming  the  State  Constitution,  and  to  that  for 
ratifying  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  He  also  served 
several  times  as  representative  in  the  General  Court  of  the  Com¬ 
monwealth.  Besides  serving  the  town  in  these  elevated  stations,  he 
often  filled  the  office  of  selectman,  and  held  for  many  years  the 
place  of  Deacon  of  the  Fourth  Church. 

"It  was  while  on  the  road,  returning  to  his  home  from  a  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  selectmen,  that  the  career  of  this  good  man  was  suddenly 


32 


ended  by  death,  November  3,  1796.  His  wife  had  ,died  about 
1776.  A  sermon  was  preached  at  his  funeral  by  the  Rev.  Eli 
Forbes,  from  Isaiah  LVII.;  1,  2,  in  which  the  virtues  of  the  de¬ 
parted  were  portrayed  by  the  venerable  pastor  with  touching 
simplicity  and  truthfulness: — ”  Babson  History  of  Gloucester. 

"A  lover  of  liberty,  and  a  well  tempered  zeal  to  promote  the 
common  good  of  his  country,  animated  his  heart  and  directed  his 
whole  conduct.” 

Note :  I  have  a  silhouette  of  Col.  John3  Low  given  me  by  my 
Aunt  Susan  Babson-RBA. 

Col.  Low  had  ten  children,  only  five  of  whom  reached  matur¬ 
ity,  as  follows: 

John  Low,  Jr.,  Born  Sept.  1,  1754. 

David  Low,  born  June  1,  1759. 

Joshua  G.  Low. 

Sarah  Low,  married  Moses  Allen.  (The  chest  of  drawers  that 
Henry  Babson  has  belonged  to  a  son  (Moses)  of  Sarah  and  Moses 
Allen.  He  was  purser  on  a  merchant  vessel.) 

Elizabeth  Low  married  William  Rogers  (Rev.  John  Trask’s 
grandfather.) 

We  trace  our  ancestry  to  both  John4  Low,  Jr.,  and  David 
Low.  The  former  was  the  grandfather  of  Gustavus1  Babson 
(1820-1897)  while  the  latter  was  the  father  of  Susan  S.  Low  (1820- 
1880) ,  wife  of  Gustavus. 

John4  Low,  Jr.  (1754-1801),  eldest  son  of  Col.  John3  Low, 
was  born  September  1st,  1754,  and  Was  sent  to  Harvard  College. 
It  is  reported  that  he  was  asked  to  leave  college  because  of  the  wild 
life  that  he  led  there.  He  later  settled  down  and  became  a  mer¬ 
chant  carrying  on  a  fishing  business  on  Squam  River.  In  1779,  he 
bought  what  is  now  known  as  the  "Babson  Home,"  built  by  Joseph 
Allen  about  1740.  He  deeded  it  to  his  son  William  who  sold  it  to 
Isaac  Smith  in  1765.  Smith  to  John4  Low,  Jr.,  December  18,  1779, 
for  about  $2000.00.  It  ultimately  went  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth 


33 


Gorham  Low  who  married  Nathaniel1  Babson  (1784-1836),  Gustavus1 
Babson  (1820-1897)  bought  out  the  other  heirs  in  1863. 

On  November  25,  1779,  he  married  Lucy  Rogers  (Born  Aug.  26, 
1760)  daughter  of  Daniel  Rogers  and  Elizabeth  Gorham  Rogers  of 
Copley  Portrait  Fame.  They  had  eight  children,  six  boys  and  two  girls, 
only  one  of  whom  married,  Elizabeth  Gorham  Low  (1786-1862)  who 
married  Nathaniel1  Babson  (1784-1836.)  Their  children  were  as 
follows : 


John,  Isaac,  Edward,  Charles,  Solomon,  George  (all  died  un¬ 
married). 

Lucy  died  unmarried  1846. 

Elizabeth  Gorham  Low,  born  Feb.  4,  1786,  died  April  7,  1862, 
married  Nathaniel  Babson  Nov.  19,  1809.  (See  Babson  Family) 

All  of  the  boys  died  while  young  men;  George,  the  third  son 
was  washed  overboard  when  he  was  18  years  old.  Solomon  was 
the  only  one  who  lived  long  enough  to  have  much  known  about 
him.  He  was  a  reporter  on  the  Boston  Advertiser  and  died  Dec. 
30,  1822,  aged  30  years,  on  board  of  a  steamer  just  as  it  entered 
Charleston  Harbor,  where  he  was  going  for  his  health.  Mrs.  Albert 
P.  Babson  has  his  oil  portrait.  He  was  a  very  bright  man  and  left 
a  journal  kept  while  on  a  trip.  His  property  was  divided  between 
his  two  sisters,  one-half  going  to  Elizabeth  Gorham  who  married 
Nathaniel1  Babson  and  one-half  to  her  unmarried  sister  Lucy.  The 
latter  died  in  1846. 

Lucy  Rogers  Low  died  after  a  long  illness  on  February  7, 
1793,  age  33.  It  is  said  that  before  she  passed  on  that  she  urged  her 
husband  to  get  Polly  Coffin  to  come  and  take  care  of  the  children 
even  if  he  had  to  pay  her  $1.00  a  week! 

In  March,  1795,  John4  Low,  Jr.,  married  a  second  time,  Abigal 
Hall.  There  were  no  children.  He  died  in  Gloucester,  February 
10,  1801. 

In  the  Massachusetts  Archives  "Massachusetts  Sea  Coast  De¬ 
fense,”  book  37,  page  40,  is  found  the  following: 


34 


1523115 

"On  the  Muster  Roll  of  the  first  company  stationed  in  Glou¬ 
cester  for  the  defense  of  the  Sea  Coast,  and  commanded  by  Daniel 
Warner  from  the  time  of  Enlist,  to  the  first  day  of  November,  1775, 
appears  the  name  of  "Jno.  Low  Jr.  Rank  1st  Lieutenant.  Time  of 
Enlistment  July  17th,  1775.  Wages  per  month  £3. 12s.  Wages  due 
£10  3s  2p.” 

In  book  37,  page  29,  the  following  is  found: 

"On  Muster  Roll  of  the  First  Company  stationed  at  Gloucester 
for  the  defense  of  the  Sea  Coast  and  commanded  by  Daniel  Warner 
made  up  from  the  first  day  of  November,  1775,  to  the  last  day  of 
December,  1775"  appears  the  name  of  "John  Low,  Junr.  Rank  1st 
Lieut.  Time  in  ye  service  2  mo.  ds.  Wages  per  month  £3  12s. 
Wages  due  £7.1 6s  lOp.  Solomon  Gorham  was  2nd  Lieut. 

"January  10th,  1776,  on  a  new  enlistment,  Solomon  Gorham 
succeeded  John  Low,  Jr.,  as  1st  Lieut,  and  served  until  December 
31st,  1776.” 

ELIZABETH  GORHAM  LOW  (1786-1862),  the  youngest 
daughter  and  only  child  of  John4  Low,  Jr.,  who  married,  was  born 
in  Gloucester,  February  4,  1786.  On  November  19,  1809,  she 
married  Nathaniel1  Babson  (1784-1836),  a  sea  captain.  They  had  six 
children : 

Nathaniel  Babson,  born  1810. 

John  Low  Babson,  born  1812. 

Ann  Rogers  Babson,  born  1814. 

Charles  Babson,  born  1817. 

Gustavus  Babson,  born  1820. 

Eliza  Gorham  Babson,  born  1823. 

(See  "Babson  Family”  for  further  details.) 


DAVID  LOW  (1759-1840),  the  second  son  of  Col.  John3 
Low  was  born  June  1,  1759.  On  February  16,  1786,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Rogers  (born  July  7,  1764)  daughter  of  Daniel  Rogers 
and  sister  of  his  brother  John’s  wife,  Lucy. 


35 


His  early  life  was  spent  at  sea.  He  early  became  a  successful 
shipmaster,  making  many  voyages  to  Northern  Europe.  Having 
accumulated  a  comfortable  fortune  he  retired  from  the  sea  shortly 
after  1790.  In  1793  he  built  the  Low  house  above  "The  Green,” 
which  has  since  been  remodelled  by  William  T.  Cunningham.  This 
became  the  family  home  and  he  became  a  farmer.  He  was  very 
much  interested  in  the  church  near  his  home  and  in  the  schools,  in 
both  of  which  he  took  a  very  active  part.  He  was  a  good  father, 
a  most  upright  citizen  and  enjoyed  a  good  reputation  among  all 
neighbors.  He  was  a  robust,  fine  looking  man,  well  over  six  feet 
tall,  and  straight  as  an  arrow.  He  clung  to  the  old  customs  and 
was  the  last  man  in  town  to  wear  a  queue  and  knee  breeches.  In 
his  later  years  he  used  to  sit  by  the  window  of  his  home  and  call 
in  his  old  cronies  to  have  a  glass  of  grog  with  him.  He  was  the 
father  of  17  children  as  follows: 

David  Low,  Jr.,  born  November  17,  1786.  Married  Mary  Langdon. 

A  very  elegant  looking  man;  portrait  painted  by  Gilbert  Stuart, 
known  as  a  very  successful  sea  captain  and  man  of  business.  Capt. 
Low  died  when  about  40  years  of  age  and  was  buried  in  Havre, 
France.  He  had  one  child,  Mary  Elizabeth,  who  married  Dr. 
Charles  Heywood.  Mary  Elizabeth  and  Dr.  Charles  Heywood  had 
three  children — 

Mary,  married  Charles  Roper. 

Edith  died  unmarried. 

Annie  married  Roger  Haydock. 

Isaac  Low,  born  September  1,  1788,  died  in  infancy. 

Eliza,  born  June  28,  1790,  died  March  10,  1794. 

Sally,  born  January  13,  1793,  unmarried — died  1879. 

Eliza,  born  September  4,  1794,  died  October  21,  1796. 

John  Gorham,  born  March  22,  1796,  a  very  capable  sea  captain.  He 
married  the  widow  of  his  brother  David  and  perished  in  the  burn¬ 
ing  of  the  "Lexington”,  Jan.  13,  1840. 

John  Gorham  Low  had  two  children 

Louisa. 

John  Gorham,  posthumus  child. 


36 


Louisa  carried  on  a  very  successful  girls  school  at  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  and  died  unmarried.  She  purchased  the  Copley 
portrait.  John  Gorham  married  Jessie  Van  Wagner  of 
Fishkill,  New  York.  Their  children— 

Julia. 

Mary. 

Rebecca. 

John  Gorham,  Jr. 

Caroline. 

Alexander  (deceased). 

Two  twin  boys,  died  at  birth. 

Lucy  Rogers,  born  November  11,  1798,  died  in  1880. 

Daniel  Rogers,  born  June  29,  1800,  1st  mate,  died  in  St.  Thomas,  1820. 
Mary,  born,  April  26,  1802,  died  April,  1887,  unmarried. 

Moses  Allen,  born  October  17,  1803,  died  in  infancy. 

Moses  Allen,  January  28,  1805,  died  May  23,  1861,  sea  captain. 

Gorham  Parsons,  born  September  1,  1806,  died  Aug.,  1880,  sea  captain. 

(This  is  "Uncle  Gorham"  whose  interesting  "Reminiscences  of  a 
Sea  Life”  has  given  a  thrill  to  all  who  read  his  story.) 

Elizabeth  Rogers  Low  died  February  23,  1810,  and  on  July 
4,  1811,  he  married  Mrs.  Lucy  Stanwood.*  They  had  3  daughters 
as  follows: 

Elizabeth  Rogers,  born  Jan.  9,  1812,  married  to  J.  W.  Lowe,  1866. 

died  January  or  February,  1893. 

Ann  Prentiss,  born  Jan.  1st,  1818,  died  1843  unmarried. 

Susan  Stanwood,  born  Aug.  31,  1820,  died  May  10,  1880,  married 
Gustavus  Babson,  June  12,  1845. 

David  Low  died  March  28,  1840,  at  the  age  of  81.  Lucy,  his 
second  wife,  died  September  25,  1858,  age  80. 

Note:  I  have  a  silhouette  of  David  Low  given  me  by  Susan 
Babson -RB  A. 


*  She  was  the  widow  of  David  Stanwood.  Her  maiden  name  was  Lucy 
Bennett,  born  August  8,  1778,  and  was  the  daughter  of  "Widow  Bailey." 
Mary  Pearson’s  mother  was  a  daughter  of  David  Stanwood  and  Lucy  Bennett. 
Annie  Bennett’s  father  was  an  own  nephew  to  Lucy  Bennett. 


37 


SUSAN  STANWOOD  LOW,  (1820-1880),  the  youngest 
of  David  Low’s  seventeen  children,  was  bom  in  the  Low  home 
above  "The  Green”  on  August  31,  1820.  On  June  12,  1845,  she 
married  Gustavus1  Babson  (1820-1897).  (To  avoid  duplication, 
their  children  are  shown  under  the  Babson  Family.) 


DESCENDANTS  OF  OTHER  CHILDREN  OF  DAVID  LOW 

1759-1840 

Moses  Low,  born  January  28,  1805,  died  May  23,  1861,  a 
very  successful  sea  captain.  Married  A.  M.  Sargent. 

Eliza  Low,  married  Waldo  Smith. 

James  H.  A.  Smith  lived  in  Newburyport. 

Lucy  Low  married  Ira  C.  Crain,  Feb.  10,  1890. 

Elizabeth.  (Her  mother  died  and  she  was  adopted  by  Miss 
E.  Pleasants  and  given  her  name.  She  lived  with  Gustavus 
Babson,  Seward,  for  a  while.) 

Winthrop,  married  Carrie  Ross. 

Moses  Melvin  Low,  born  1883,  lives  in  Newburyport. 

David,  lives  in  Attleboro,  Mass. 

Gertrude  Low. 

Anna-unmarried. 

Gorham  P.  Low,  born  September  1,  1806.  When  16  years 
old  he  made  his  first  sea  voyage,  in  the  Brig  "Falcon”  commanded 
by  his  oldest  brother  David.  He  followed  the  sea  for  20  years 
becoming  Master  of  his  own  ship  in  1829  when  only  23  years  old. 
He  amassed  a  moderate  fortune  and  retired  from  sea  in  1842.  He 
married  Letitia  Crymble  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  on  May  5,  1845. 
He  bought  the  house  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Angle 
Streets  that  had  been  built  by  Daniel  Rogers  and  lived  in  it  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  took  an  outstanding  place  in  the  community 
and  was  interested  in  every  civic  enterprise.  He  died  of  angina 
pectoris  on  August  5,  1880,  at  the  age  of  74.  He  was  survived  by 
one  son — 

Gorham  P.  Low,  Jr.,  Civil  Engineer,  died  1894,  unmarried. 

David  Low,  married  Louise  Price,  died  1879- 
David  Low,  electrical  engineer,  born  1879. 


38 


Below  is  a  copy  of  letter  from  Gorham  P.  Low  to  his  older 
brother  Moses,  written  shortly  after  Gorham  P.  Low  had  retired 
from  the  sea: 

"Gloucester,  March  15,  1843. 

Capt.  Moses  A.  Low, 

Dear  Brother: 

The  Great  Western  which  arrived  at  New  York  a  few  days  since 
brought  us  news  of  your  sailing  from  Liverpool  for  Havana  on  the  10th 
ult,  and  I  hope  you  will  have  arrived  there  in  safety  by  the  time  this 
reaches  there.  I  wrote  you  just  before  you  sailed  from  Charleston,  to 
inform  you  of  Ann’s  dangerous  sickness  and  it  now  becomes  my  painful 
duty  to  acquaint  you  with  her  death.  She  was  first  taken  sick  at  the 
Harbour,  and  was  there  confined  to  the  house  about  six  weeks,  when 
she  got  a  little  better  and  came  home,  but  she  soon  began  to  fail  again 
and  after  lingering  about  six  weeks  she  expired  on  the  21st  of  February. 

She  exhibited  throughout  her  painful  sickness  a  great  deal  of  fortitude 
and  patience  and  died  calmly  with  the  hope  of  exchanging  this  world 
for  a  better  one. 

"The  other  members  of  the  family  are  quite  well.  Mrs.  Low  feels 
Ann’s  loss  very  much  but  she  bears  up  against  it  much  better  than  we 
expected.  I  have  been  with  the  family  most  of  the  time. 

"This  winter  since  the  last  of  January  has  been  very  severe,  the 
ground  covered  with  snow  and  sleighing  good  even  now.  I  found  our 
wood  lots  quite  bare  of  wood  and  as  there  was  such  a  good  opportunity 
of  getting  out  wood,  and  as  the  team  could  do  nothing  else  I  thought 
it  best  to  buy  a  Lot  which  I  did  and  gave  $46  for  it.  We  have  hauled 
home  about  25  cords  and  there  is  about  as  much  more  remaining. 

"I  believe  I  wrote  you  word  that  Dr.  Ferson  had  petitioned  the 
Court  for  liberty  to  sell  so  much  of  the  Estate  as  would  pay  the  debts. 
Nothing  further  has  been  done  about  it,  as  the  doctor  has  been  quite 
sick  ever  since.  If  he  should  get  well  I  hardly  know  what  we  can  sell 
to  raise  the  money,  besides  it  will  make  no  difference  to  us  for  we 
must  pay  the  expenses  either  way,  but  I  should  like  to  see  it  squared  up. 

In  the  sipring  I  shall  try  to  do  it  if  we  can  get  any  thing  like  a  fair 
price  for  the  land. 

"Isaac  Hodgkins  is  with  us  yet  and  I  think  I  shall  try  to  engage 
him  for  another  year  and  John  Carter  or  John  Wilson  for  the  summer 
months.  We  have  all  our  hay  and  potatoes  on  hand  yet — no  market  for 
anything. 


39 


"Your  country  seat  remains  unoccupied  since  Mrs.  Lancaster  left. 

She  has  paid  $9  toward  the  rent  which  about  pays  me  for  taking  care 
of  your  hay. 

"Your  female  acquaintances  in  the  harbour  remain  pretty  much 
as  you  left  them.  Capt.  Pearson  I  expect  you  will  meet  in  Cuba.  Nick 
Parsons  is  daily  expected  from  Surinam.  He  will  make  a  poor  voyage. 

I  was  very  much  disappointed  in  not  receiving  a  letter  from  you  from 
Liverpool.  All  the  news  we  have  had  from  you  was  through  the  papers. 

I  am  very  glad  you  have  had  such  good  dispatch  so  far  and  if  you  have  a 
good  passage  to  Cuba  and  procure  a  ]/^  freight  you  will  make  a  much 
better  years  work  than  I  shall. 

"I  have  not  seen  nor  heard  from  Col.  Seaver  since  you  were  here 
consequently  have  no  knowledge  of  your  proceedings  at  Liverpool. 

John  L.  Rogers  while  loading  his  ship  at  New  Orleans  had  his 
leg  broken  by  a  bale  of  cotton  and  was  compelled  to  remain  there 
while  the  ship  came  to  Boston.  He  has  since  recovered  and  will  go  in 
the  ship  to  Liverpool  with  a  %  freight. 

Solomon  Davis  arrived  here  soon  after  you  sailed.  He  sold  out 
his  part  of  the  ship  and  has  been  at  home  ever  since. 

Edward  Babson  arrived  here  about  3  weeks  since  after  a  14 
months’  voyage,  and  has  lost  by  his  adventure  more  than  all  his  wages. 

Elias  Davison  will  also  lose  from  2  to  3,000  by  him.  Edward 
sailed  again  yesterday.  Charles  Babson  is  still  his  mate.’’ 

Yours  affectionate  Brother, 

Gorham  P.  Low. 
Boston,  March  22nd. 

P.  S. 

Dear  Brother: 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  had  no  opportunity  to  send  till 
now.  If  I  had  known  you  were  to  sail  so  soon  from  Liverpool  I  should 
have  written  earlier.  I  shall  send  you  by  the  same  conveyance  a  number 
of  papers  and  the  Gloucester  Town  Report.  I  came  from  Gloucester 
today.  I  find  Mrs.  Low  and  her  children  well.  Little  John  grows  fast 
and  is  a  smart  boy.  Business  here  is  very  dull.  Stocks  flat  and  dividends 
small.  Mr.  Fields  wishes  me  to  go  to  sea  in  his  ship  but  I  have  not 
concluded  what  to  do  yet.  I  have  no  doubt  your  last  voyage  was 
stormy  and  unpleasant,  but  a  person  always  feels  better  when  looking 
back  on  dangers  past  than  on  time  wasted.  I  hope  you  will  write 
me  often  from  Cuba.  “G.P.L.” 


40 


Washington,  D.  C.,  Jan.  12,  1844. 

Capt.  Moses  A.  Low: 

Dear  Brother: 

You  no  doubt  will  be  surprised  to  receive  a  letter  from  me  from 
Washington,  but  as  I  was  quite  tired  of  doing  nothing  at  home,  I 
thought  it  would  be  pleasant  to  take  a  trip  to  this  place,  partly  to 
change  the  scene  and  partly  to  learn  how  things  are  managed  at  Wash¬ 
ington.  I  have  been  here  now  but  two  days  consequently  have  not  had 
time  to  advise  with  all  the  heads  of  the  departments,  but  from  the  best 
authority  I  can  get  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  Robert  Rantoul  will 
be  ejected  from  the  Boston  Custom  House  and  all  the  new  appoint¬ 
ments  at  Gloucester  will  also  have  their  walking  tickets  and  as  it  re¬ 
gards  any  other  appointments  to  office,  I  take  no  interest. 

I  left  home  about  a  week  since  when  all  our  family  were  well. 
Stopped  at  Boston  two  hours.  Found  Mrs.  Low  sick  with  a  cold  and 
L  &  John  with  the  whooping  cough.  Mary  E.  and  Miss  Sarah  Shepherd 
were  quite  well.  We  stopped  in  New  York  two  days  and  in  Philadel¬ 
phia  two  days  where  I  saw  Mrs.  Nancy  Plummer.  She  was  in  fine 
health  and  spirits.  Took  a  ride  with  her  and  the  Miss  Atwoods  to  see 
the  City  and  since  my  arrival  here  I  have  spent  most  of  my  time  exam¬ 
ining  the  public  buildings.  Today  I  have  been  to  Georgetown  to  see 
Georgiana  T.  Pearce  and  carry  her  a  package  from  her  parents.  (I  be¬ 
lieve  she  left  home  to  join  the  Convent  before  you  sailed)  I  found  her 
quite  well  and  apparently  happy  in  her  new  religion.  They  (the  nuns) 
took  us  over  the  building  to  see  their  accommodations.  We  found 
everything  quite  neat  and  comfortable. 

I  suppose  you  find  it  quite  tedious  doing  nothing  in  Charleston 
but  you  would  find  it  equally  so  here  or  at  home  and  I  think  your 
chance  of  getting  a  freight  there  is  as  good  as  in  any  other  port  and  I 
would  hold  on  there  for  the  present  and  if  no  cotton  freight  offered, 
you  can  go  to  Cuba  for  sugar. 

We  have  just  heard  of  the  arrival  of  our  Barque  Talisman,  at  Mo¬ 
bile.  I  expect  she  will  get  about  a  %  of  a  cargo  to  Boston  and  go  to 
Cuba  in  the  Spring.  The  shipping  interest  looks  very  bad  at  present  but 
times  must  change  soon  for  the  better. 

William  Parsons  Jr.  came  on  here  with  me.  He  has  a  very  extensive 
acquaintance  and  knows  how  to  talk  to  them.  He  has  introduced  me 
to  most  of  the  Senators  and  Representatives  from  Massachusetts.  They 
are  all  very  civil  and  polite.  Bill  Parsons  speaks  to  them  all  as  though 


41 


they  were  his  inferiors  and  I  believe  some  of  them  axe,  for  he  is  a  very 
smart  man. 

In  your  last  letter  you  requested  me  to  have  our  Estate  settled  and 
I  have  petitioned  the  Probate  Court  for  permission  to  sell  enough  of  the 
Estate  to  pay  the  debts  and  wish  you  to  write  me  what  part  we  had 
better  sell  and  what  is  best  to  do  with  Mother’s  Estate.  I  am  afraid 
this  will  be  a  very  uninteresting  letter  to  you.  With  your  female  ac¬ 
quaintances  nothing  has  transpired  since  you  left  worth  writing  about 
and  it  is  as  dull  at  Gloucester  as  it  can  be.  They  have  the  Lyceum 
there  once  a  fortnight  and  that  is  their  only  amusement. 

Write  me  often  and  believe  me 

Yours  most  affectionate  brother, 

Gorham  P.  Low. 


Boston,  Jan.  16,  1828. 

Mr.  Moses  A.  Low, 

Mate  Brig  Medford  of  Boston 
Dear  Brother: 

I  was  pleased  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  at  this  place  (New 
York)  and  that  you  were  well.  I  am  very  glad  you  have  gone  again 
with  John.  It  is  the  best  thing  you  could  do.  It  looks  well  for  brothers 
to  agree  for  so  long  a  time. 

You  must  take  pains  and  make  yourself  acquainted  with  the  duty 
of  Master,  as  I  hope  soon  to  see  you  in  that  capacity. 

I  have  only  time  to  write  you  a  line,  to  tell  you  we  are  all  well. 
Wife  and  Lucy  send  their  love  to  you.  Moses  behave  well  and  I  will 
try  to  help  you  as  much  as  I  can. 

Gorham  is  now  on  his  passage  from  Canton.  Will  be  here  about 
April. 

You  must  write  me  a  long  letter  as  you  have  more  time  than  I 

have. 

Your  friend  and  Brother, 

David  Low. 


GORHAM  PARSONS  LOW 

Son  of  David  Low  (1759  -  1840)  and  Elizabeth  Rogers. 
Born  September  1,  1806 


42 


Died  August  5,  1880 

Married  May  5,  1845,  to  Letitia  Crymble  of  Louisville,  Ky. 

He  was  a  sea  captain  and  author  of  the  manuscript  "Sea  Made 
Men”  published  by  Roger  W.  Babson. 

Peter  Gee  (1608-1682). 

Joshua  Gee,  Shipwright. 

Joshua  Gee,  (Rev.). 

Sarah  Gee,  married  Col.  John  Low. 

John  Low,  Jr.,  married  Lucy  Rogers. 

Elizabeth  G.  Low,  married  Nathaniel  Babson. 

Gustavus  Babson  married  Susan  S.  Low. 

Ann  Prentiss  Babson,  married  C.  S.  Ailing. 

Robert  Babson  Ailing. 

David  Low,  married  Lucy  Stanwood. 

Susan  Stanwood  Low,  daughter  of  Lucy  Stanwood  and 
David  Low  married  Gustavus  Babson. 

STORY  OF  THE  GEE  CANDLE 

Peter  Gee,  supposed  to  be  the  son  of  either  Henry  or  Ralph 
Gee  who  were  sent  over  by  Mason  to  patent  in  1631,  is  the  first 
one  of  the  family  of  whom  we  have  any  definite  information.  We 
hear  of  him  as  a  fisherman  with  his  wife  Grace  living  on  the  Isles 
of  Shoals  in  1653  and  later  at  the  Mackerell  Tavern,  Boston, 
whether  as  inn  keeper  or  resident  is  not  known  (1659).  He  was 
born  in  1608  and  died  in  1688  and  had  several  children.  Joshua, 
in  whom  we  are  particularly  interested,  was  a  shipwright  and 
was  listed  as  a  freeman  (1675)  which  means  that  he  had  special 
privileges  in  voting.  The  story  is  that  in  the  capacity  of  ship¬ 
wright  he  shipped  out  of  Boston  on  a  vessel  bound  on  a  European 
voyage  which  was  captured  by  pirates  off  the  coast  of  Barberry. 
The  entire  crew  were  murdered  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Gee,  the 
Dey  saving  his  life  on  account  of  his  knowledge  of  shipbuilding 
which  he  was  going  to  turn  to  his  own  account.  The  Dey  prom¬ 
ised  him  his  freedom  if  he  would  build  him  a  ship  which  he  accord- 


43 


ingly  proceeded  to  do.  This  done  he  was  told  he  must  rig  it,  which 
he  also  accomplished,  but  when  he  was  told  that  he  must  take  the 
ship  against  the  English  with  whom  they  were  then  at  war,  he  re¬ 
fused  to  take  up  arms  against  his  country.  Accordingly  he  was 
condemned  to  work  in  the  mines,  where  they  were  kept  in  caves 
and  closely  guarded.  He,  however,  contrived  to  secret  about  his 
person  bits  of  unused  candles  and  one  night  eluding  his  guards  by 
the  light  of  his  candles  he  found  the  way  out  from  his  subterra¬ 
nean  abode.  He  secreted  himself  successfully  watching  for  a  ship, 
and  one  day  seeing  one  he  swam  out  to  it.  It  proved  to  be  a  Portu¬ 
guese  ship  so  he  was  carried  to  Portugal  where  he  was  held  for  a 
ransom.  The  ransom  was  paid  and  he  arrived  home  in  January, 
1688,  and  married  Elizabeth  Harrisse  in  September  of  the  same 
year.  This  story  was  copied  from  an  old  record  handed  down  in 
the  family,  but  it  is  vouched  for  as  an  historical  fact,  date  of  re¬ 
turn  recorded  in  Samuel  Se wall’s  Diary. 

The  candle  having  passed  through  many  vicissitudes  may  still 
be  seen. 

On  his  return  he  took  up  his  ship-building  again  and  had 
his  ship  yard  at  Copps  Hill  nearby  the  cemetery  where  the  family 
tomb  may  be  seen.  He  amassed  a  considerable  fortune  and  edu¬ 
cated  his  son  Joshua  for  the  ministry,  who  preached  in  the  old  North 
Church  which  was  later  torn  down  for  fuel  for  the  English  transports, 
Dec.  13,  1722.  The  Rev.  Joshua  married  Sarah  Rogers,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Nathaniel  C.  Rogers  of  Portsmouth  by  whom  he  had  five 
children. 

Mary  married  Nathaniel  C.  Allen,  Elizabeth,  Dr.  Samuel  Plummer 
and  Sarah,  Col.  John  Low,  all  of  Gloucester.  Alice  Whittemore  has 
the  small  hair  trunk  that  brought  her  trousseau  to  Gloucester.  S.  G., 
on  one  end  is  brass  nails,  and  1752  on  the  other.  A  piece  of  her 
wedding  dress  —  a  "garden  silk”  in  flowers  is  also  in  existence,  the 
colors  being  as  bright  as  when  woven.  As  many  or  rather  most  of 
our  early  settlers  had  three  or  four  wives  in  succession,  oftentimes 
marrying  widows,  it  is  very  difficult  to  trace  an  ancestry,  the  results 
being  of  doubtful  authority. 


44 


BABSON  FAMILY 


Isabel  Babson  (1579-1661)  (widow). 

James  Babson  (1630-1683),  married  Eleanor  Hill. 

John  Babson  (1660-1737),  married  Dorcas  Elwell. 

John  Babson  (1691-1720),  married  Mary  Butman. 

William  Babson  (1719-1755),  married  Martha  Haraden. 

William  Babson  (1749-?),  married  Anna  Rogers. 

Nathaniel  Babson  (1784-1836),  married  Elizabeth  Gorham  Low. 

Gustavus  Babson  (1820-1897) ,  married  Susan  Stanwood  Low 

Gustavus  Babson,  Jr.  (1848-1903),  married  Ellen  W.  Kemp. 
Gustavus  Babson,  3rd  (1882-1941),  married  Ethel  Norval. 
Ann  Prentiss  Babson  (1857-1946),  married  Chas.  S.  Ailing. 
Robert  Babson  Ailing  (1887-1929),  married  Irene  Brown. 

ISABELLA  (or  Isabel)  BABSON*  was  born  about  1579 
probably  in  England.  She  was  the  widow  of  James1  Babson  who 
appeared  on  the  sailing  lists  as  a  cooper.  He,  however,  succumbed  to 
the  rigors  of  the  long  sea  journey,  and  never  reached  the  New  World. 
Isabella  had  to  continue  sorrowfully  alone,  and  thus  she  and  her  son 
James  were  the  only  two  individuals  bearing  the  name  in  New  Eng¬ 
land,  and  it  is  a  name  that  occurs  seldom  if  ever  in  the  mother  country. 
Mr.  George  J.  Babson  found  only  the  name  of  Rabson  in  the  mother 
country.  As  early  as  1637,  Isabella  Babson,  the  widow,  received  in 
Salem  a  grant  of  land.  She  and  her  son,  James,  settled  in  Gloucester 
and  there  Isabella  received  several  grants  of  land,  her  first  choice  be¬ 
ing  the  twelve  acres  noted  below,  which  was  the  first  recorded 
transfer  in  "Sandy  Bay,”  now  Rockport.  She  bought  also  of  Mr. 
Milward  the  two  acres  that  were  "Ashley’s  lot,”  a  tract  which  continued 
in  the  family  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  This  was 
located  near  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Main  and  Porter  streets, 
Gloucester.* 


*See  Addenda  showing  that  the  family  name  was  probably  RABSON  before 
Isabel  came  to  America. 

*Now  69  Main  Street 


45 


Isabella  Babson  was  of  special  value  to  the  pioneer  women  at  a 
time  when  doctors  were  rare  and  many  a  mother  gave  her  life  in 
childbirth;  for  she  had  knowledge  of  the  practical  services  called  for 
at  such  trying  times,  and  held  the  confidence  of  her  sex  among  the 
brave  pioneers,  and  earned  their  respect  and  gratitude.  Her  home  also 
was  a  gathering  place  for  the  fishermen  of  the  little  community  where 
she  kept  records  of  trips  and  sales  of  vessel  "shares.”  This  work  has 
sifted  down  through  several  generations  and  is  now  carried  on  by 
Roger,  Paul,  and  David  Babson,  direct  descendants  of  Isabella.  She 
died  at  Gloucester,  April  6,  l66l.  Issue,  as  far  as  known,  an  only  son. 


JAMES2  BABSON.  Isabella  Babson  had  only  one  son,  James, 
the  ancestor  of  all  the  Babsons  in  America,  who  was  born  in  Eng¬ 
land  in  1630,  coming  to  Salem  with  his  mother  when  he  was  two 
years  old.  By  trade  he  was  a  cooper  and  on  November  16,  1647, 
married  N.  E.  Hill.  From  the  records,  it  would  seem  that  he  lived 
with  his  mother  until  her  death  in  1661.  He  was  given  the  earliest 
grant  of  land  made  in  Sandy  Bay.  The  property  now  known  as 
Beaver  Dam  was  granted  to  James  Babson  on  December  23,  1658, 
in  recognition  of  his  mother,  Isabel’s  kindly  and  capable  service  to 
the  town.  It  was  James  Babson’s  farm  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
as  cooper,  his  mill  for  sawing  lumber  into  barrel  staves  being  not  far 
distant.  His  descendants  have  just  erected  at  the  old  Beaver  Dam 
Farm  a  tablet  commemorating  the  arrival  of  the  Babson  family  in 
America.  (Copy  of  inscription  on  tablet  shown  below.)  The  stone 
house  built  approximately  in  1658  was  occupied  by  Colonel  Foster 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  It  was  restored  to  its  original  appear¬ 
ance  by  descendants  in  1930,  a  part  of  the  interior  wall  being  glassed 
in  to  show  its  construction.  The  present  stone  barn  was  built  in  1832 
after  the  house  became  used  as  a  tavern. 

He  died  December  21,  1683.  His  will  shows  him  fairly  well 
supplied  with  agricultural  implements  and  domestic  animals,  wear- 
ing  apparel  being  one  of  the  smallest  items  mentioned  in  his  testa¬ 
ment.  His  wife  died  March  14,  1714.  Issue,  ten  children. 


46 


INSCRIPTION  ON  TABLET  AT  BEAVER  DAM  FARM 

Granted  by  Special  Town  Act,  December  23,  1658.  James  and  his 
mother,  Isabel,  were  the  first  Babsons  to  reach  America,  arriving  in 
1632.  James’  father  died  on  shipboard  while  crossing. 

Town  records  show  that  Isabel  was  a  very  active,  kindly  and 
beloved  member  of  the  community.  She  died  in  1661.  James  was  a 
cooper  who  made  barrels,  etc.,  from  lumber  obtained  from  the  adjoin¬ 
ing  mill  on  Cape  Pond  Brook.  He  married  Eleanor  Hill  and  they 
had  ten  children.  He  died  in  1683. 

JOHN1  BABSON,  son  of  James2  Babson  and  Eleanor  (Hill) 
Babson,  evidently  a  man  of  unusual  spirit  and  commercial  enter¬ 
prise,  was  born  in  1660  in  Gloucester,  Massachusetts.  He  acquired 
a  grant  of  land  in  1695  of  two  or  three  acres  at  Straitsmouth  to 
‘'set  up  fishing  upon,”  a  business  venture  few  colonists  would  have 
hazarded.  It  is  debatable  whether  John1  Babson  ever  actually  lived 
on  his  grant  of  land  “The  first  separate  grant”  at  Sandy  Bay, 
although  there  was  for  many  years  an  empty  cellar  hole  upon  the 
place  to  mark  the  site  of  a  house. 

The  bay  itself  comprises  the  bodies  of  water  bounded  on  the 
North  by  Andrews  Point,  which  Hoop  Pole  Cove  separates  from 
Halibut  Point,  and  on  the  Southeast  by  Straitsmouth  Island.  It 
included  Pigeon  Cove,  the  docks  of  the  Rockport  Granite  Company, 
the  cove  by  the  beach  that  the  village  streets  skirt,  and  the  uncommonly 
quaint  little  harbor  formed  by  Bearskin  Neck  and  its  tiny  breakwater. 
People  on  the  Cape  refer  to  it  casually  as  a  monument  to  political 
graft  —  and  so  indeed  it  is,  if  half  the  tales  that  are  told  of  it  are 
true!  —  which  now  forms  the  outer  boundary  of  the  bay. 

However,  the  dauntless  John1  Babson  proved  himself  a  worthy 
inheritor  of  the  fine  mettle  which  characterized  the  fearless  spirit 
of  his  pioneer  grandmother,  and  he  increased  his  original  fishing  ground 
to  twenty-seven  acres.  He  disposed  of  his  business  in  1721,  no  doubt 
at  a  considerable  profit  on  the  original  investment.  Died  in  1737. 

He  married  in  1686,  Dorcas  Elwell,  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Mary 
(Collins)  Elwell,  and  granddaughter  of  Robert  Elwell,  who  first 
appears  in  New  England  history  in  1635  as  a  witness  in  connection 
with  "the  outrageous  conduct  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wanner  ton  at  the  east- 


47 


ward,”  admitted  a  freeman  in  1640,  and  was  made  a  member  of 
the  church  in  Salem  in  1643;  owned  lands  in  different  parts  of  Glouces¬ 
ter,  and  lived  for  a  time  at  the  harbor  and  afterward  settled  perma¬ 
nently  on  Eastern  Point,  where  most  of  his  land  was  situated;  also 
served  as  commissioner  for  ending  small  causes,  highly  esteemed  by 
the  colonists,  who  usually  called  him  'Goodman”  El  well.  Dorcas 
Elwell  Babson  died  in  the  same  year  as  her  husband,  John1  Babson, 
in  1737.  Issue,  9  children,  among  others,  a  son  — 

JOHN2  BABSON,  son  of  John1  and  Dorcas  (Elwell)  Babson, 
was  born  in  1691,  in  Gloucester,  Massachusetts.  Although  extant 
records  do  not  state  the  activities  in  which  he  engaged,  he  occupied 
his  days  in  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  and  undoubtedly  played  his 
part  among  the  other  men  of  the  colony  in  protecting  the  settlers 
from  the  savagery  of  the  Indians.  The  fact  that  he  died  when  only 
twenty-nine  years  of  age  probably  accounts  for  the  scarcity  of  avail¬ 
able  data  concerning  his  life.  Died  June  1,  1720,  at  Gloucester, 
Mass.  Married  Mary  Butman,  January  6,  1715.  Issue,  3  children, 
among  others  a  son  — 

WILLIAM1  Babson,  son  of  John2  and  Mary  (Butman)  Babson, 
was  born  November  4,  1719.  Little  is  known  of  his  life,  except  that 
he  like  his  brother  James,  who  was  a  sea  captain,  followed  the  venture¬ 
some  life  of  the  sea,  which  terminated  tragically  when  he  was  "lost” 
overboard  on  a  voyage  to  the  Grand  Bank,”  probably  on  a  fishing 
enterprise.  (Died  about  1749).  He  married  Martha  Haraden, 
November  20,  1743.  She  died  October  15,  1772.  Issue,  5  children, 
a  son  being  — 

CAPT.  WILLIAM2  BABSON,  son  of  William1  Babson  and 
Martha  (Haraden)  Babson,  was  born  in  Gloucester,  September  5, 
1749.  He  was  a  mariner  and  lived  in  Annisquam  where  in  later  years 
he  carried  on  the  fishing  business.  He  married  Anna,  daughter  of 
Parson  Rogers,  April  17,  1777.  She  died  June  24,  1826.  They  had 
ten  children  — 


48 


Anna,  bom  January  11,  1778. 
William,  born  June  7,  1779.* 
John,  born  March  2,  1781. 
Catherine,  born  July  3,  1782. 
Nathaniel,  born  June  17,  1784. 
Martha,  born  July  28,  1786. 
Charles,  born  Dec.  20,  1788. 
Mary,  born  April  24,  1791. 
Dorcas,  born  August  14,  1793. 
James,  born  Oct.  27,  1795. 


Descendants  of  Mary. 


Charles  Beaman,  grandson  of  Martha,  married  daughter  of  William 
Evarts,  left  descendants. 

NATHANIEL1  Babson,  son  of  William2  and  Anna  (Rogers) 
Babson,  was  born  June,  1784.  Married  Elizabeth  Gorham  Low, 
November  9,  1809.  Died  February  1,  1836.  He  was  a  sea  captain 
and  made  voyages  up  the  Baltic  to  Russia.  A  table  cloth  and  a  set 
of  china  brought  home  from  there  are  still  in  existence.  Some  years 
before  he  died,  however,  he  abandoned  the  sea,  and  carried  on  farm¬ 
ing  on  the  estate  inherited  by  his  wife  from  her  father.  No  well 
authenticated  portrait  of  him  is  in  existence.  There  is  a  silhouette 
that  may  have  been  his,  judged  by  certain  features,  but  we  are  not 
sure  of  it.  He  was  a  very  handsome  man  who  did  not  take  life 
seriously,  until  one  night  while  wandering  around  the  streets  of 
Boston,  in  company  with  Captain  Andrew  Parker,  he  entered  some 
kind  of  a  religious  meeting.  His  attitude  toward  life  underwent  a 
change  and  his  conversion  was  so  complete  that  from  that  time  forth 
he  sacrificed  much  for  his  religion.  In  1829  he  felt  compelled  to 
leave  the  First  Parish  Church  which  had  experienced  a  change  of 
doctrine  and  was  one  of  seven  to  found  the  Congregation  Church 
which  was  then  styled  Evangelical  or  Orthodox,  but  now  known  as 
Trinity  Church.  Both  he  and  Capt.  Parker  became  deacons  of  it, 
holding  the  office  till  death.  He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-two,  while 
pitching  a  load  of  hay. 


*William  carried  on  business  at  the  Harbor.  Was  father  of  John  J. 
Babson,  historian. 


49 


There  were  6  children  — 

Nathaniel  Babson,  bom  August  10,  1810. 

John  Low  Babson,  born  March  31,  1812. 

Ann  Rogers  Babson,  born  June  29,  1814. 

Charles  Babson,  born  May  13,  1817. 

Gustavus  Babson,  born  Feb.  26,  1820. 

Eliza  Gorham  Babson,  born  March  9,  1823. 

The  following  letters  were  written  by  Nathaniel1  Babson  many 
years  before  he  retired  from  the  sea: 


Gibraltar,  November  5,  1816. 

My  dear  Eliza: 

I  embrace  the  first  opportunity  to  inform  you  that  I  have  arrived 
here  in  safety  after  a  blustering  passage  and  being  in  the  most  immi¬ 
nent  danger.  I  left  Boston  on  the  17th  in  the  morning  and  nothing 
particular  occurred  till  the  25th  when  I  took  the  most  tremendous  gale 
that  ever  I  experienced.  I  saw  nothing  but  Death  before  me  as  it  was, 
for  I  thought  it  was  impossible  for  the  vessel  to  survive  the  gale.  I 
met  with  some  disaster,  lost  part  of  my  bulwarks  and  Main  top  gallant- 
mast  but  by  the  blessing  of  God  I  was  preserved  and  brought  here  in 
safety  on  the  17th  of  October. 

When  I  last  wrote  you  my  spirits  were  much  depressed,  for  after 
I  had  written  and  read  it  over,  it  made  me  feel  very  disagreeable.  It 
was  a  lonesome  day  to  me  —  nobody  that  I  could  enjoy  the  society  of 
and  only  to  ruminate  on  the  past  and  think  on  the  future.  I  did  not 
know  where  to  wander  or  what  to  do. 

I  am  now  placed  in  an  awkward  situation  for  I  have  got  a  cargo 
that  is  very  dull  here  and  where  to  better  myself  I  don’t  know,  but  I 
am  determined  to  reconcile  myself  to  whatever  my  lot  may  be  as  much 
as  possible  —  but  it  is  hard  for  a  man  to  keep  going  and  coming  and 
make  nothing,  which  will  be  the  case  now  if  I  should  return  in  safety. 

I  now  take  leave  of  the  dull  scene  and  am  going  to  take  view  of 
a  pleasanter  prospect  and  fancy  myself  at  home  in  the  society  of  you 
and  my  dear  children  sitting  round  the  stove  with  a  good  crackling 
fire  to  make  ourselves  happy  and  comfortable. 

What  it  is  a  little  heaven  upon  Earth  if  we  only  knew  how  to 
enjoy  it. 

I  hope  and  trust  in  God  that  it  may  be  my  lot  to  spend  the  evening 
of  my  life  with  a  competency  in  the  society  of  you  and  my  children, 


50 


serving  God  and  doing  all  the  good  I  can  and  making  all  of  my  family 
happy  is  my  only  prayer  and  wish.  These  thoughts  bear  me  up  and 
keep  me  alive  through  all  my  dangers  and  troubles. 

I  like  to  have  finished  my  letter  and  not  have  told  you  that  I  am 
well  and  have  enjoyed  good  health  ever  since  I  left  home  by  the  bless¬ 
ing  of  God  and  trust  in  Him  that  these  lines  will  find  you  the  same 
and  my  Dear  Children. 

I  am  now  going  to  tell  you  that  I  was  much  pleased  in  reading 
the  life  of  Dr.  Cotton  Mather.  I  presume  you  have  read  it  and  I  am 
now  going  to  ask  you  to  follow  the  example  that  he  did  when  he 
received  a  letter  from  a  friend,  which  I  don’t  doubt  that  you  have 
always  done. 

With  a  heart  big  with  their  thoughts  and  reflections,  I  subscribe 
myself  Your  affectionate  husband 

Nathan  Babson. 

P.  S. :  My  brother  is  well.  In  my  next,  I  shall  write  you  more 
particulars  relative  to  my  voyage.  Every  time  you  receive  a  line  from 
me  think  what  you  can  do  for  the  children  for  me  and  tell  them  so. 

Baltimore,  May  24,  1818. 

My  dear  Eliza: 

I  wrote  you  from  St.  Andrews  informing  you  that  I  should  come 
here  and  I  requested  you  to  write  me  immediately  upon  the  receipt  of 
my  letter.  I  have  deferred  writing  in  expectation  of  a  line  from  you. 
I  now  embrace  an  opportunity  to  inform  you  that  I  arrived  here  on 
the  19th;  that  I  have  sold  my  cargo  and  have  got  it  mostly  out.  I  shall 
finish  tomorrow.  Business  is  extremely  dull  here  and  where  I  shall  go 
from  this,  I  can’t  tell. 

I  have  given  up  all  idea  of  hearing  from  you  here.  But  I  hope 
you  won’t  be  delinquent  in  writing  hereafter.  I  am  well  by  the  bless¬ 
ing  of  God  and  I  hope  and  trust  in  Him  that  this  will  find  you  and 
my  children  the  same. 

If  I  should  go  to  any  other  place  than  Boston  from  here,  you  will 
hear  from  me  and  I  shall  send  you  something.  If  I  should  return  to 
Boston,  it  is  probable  I  shall  be  there  in  8  or  10  days  after  the  receipt 
of  this. 

I  conclude  with  subscribing  myself 

Your  Loving  Husband 

Nathaniel  Babson. 


51 


P.  S.  Don’t  say  I  am  superstitious  but  I  have  a  presentiment  that 

I  shall  hear  some  heavy  news.  I  entreat  you  to  destroy  this  —  nor  let  it 

be  known  what  I  have  here  expressed. 

One  of  the  tales  I  listened  to  in  my  childhood  related  to  Sarah, 
sister  of  John  and  David  Low  (my  great  grandfather  on  my  father’s 
side  and  grandfather  on  my  mother’s  side)  who  married  an  Allen. 
I  think  she  was  a  long  time  a  widow,  and  she  was  also  bereft  of  a 
son,  Moses  Allen,  who  was  a  purser  on  a  vessel  (Henry  has  his  bureau) . 
Whether  early  sorrows  sharpened  the  natural  asperities  of  her  dispo¬ 
sition,  I  don’t  know,  but  although  keen  of  wit  and  of  a  strong 
mind,  she  was  not  an  agreeable  person  and  also  had  the  failing  of 
fortifying  herself  artificially  against  the  troubles  of  life.  She  had 
never  declared  her  attitude  toward  things  of  the  spirit,  and  as  the 
approach  of  death  was  announced  by  her  entering  a  prolonged 
lethargic  condition,  one  of  her  relatives  at  least  was  alarmed  at  her 
future  prospects.  Perhaps  remembering  the  lines  "between  the  saddle 
and  the  ground,  mercy  was  sought,  and  mercy  found,’’  she  thought 
that,  like  the  young  man  coming  to  his  death  by  falling  off  a  horse, 
she  might  at  the  eleventh  hour,  find  assurance  in  believing.  Be  that 
it  may,  she  persuaded  my  grandfather,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Babson,  to 
try  to  pierce  the  gloom  of  uncertainty  by  asking  her  if  she  were  "pre¬ 
pared  to  die,’’  which  he  did,  screaming  in  her  ear,  as  the  occasion 
seemed  to  demand.  She  had  shown  no  cognizance  of  passing  events, 
either  by  sight  or  speech,  for  more  than  a  day,  but  his  stentorian  tones 
pierced  her  consciousness  and  without  deigning  to  open  her  eyes,  she 
said,  "Capt.  Babson,  it  is  a  great  thing  to  make  an  exchange  of  worlds.” 
This  was  her  last  utterance.  The  story  made  a  great  impression  on  me. 
7  could  see  the  picture. 

NATHANIEL2  BABSON,  the  oldest  of  the  family  preceding, 
learned  a  painter’s  trade  and  had  a  paint  shop  where  he  also  sold 
paper.  For  those  times  he  was  considered  very  well  to  do  and 
lived  well  in  a  square  house  near  the  head  of  Church  Street.  He 
was  interested  in  horticulture  and  had  a  fine  garden,  leading  nearly 
down  to  Pine  street.  He  had  a  good  library,  was  interested  in  bring¬ 
ing  the  lecturers  of  the  day  to  town  and  was  especially  interested 
in  the  abolition  movement.  His  two  daughters  were  well  educated 


52 


and  took  an  active  part  in  the  social  and  educational  life  of  the  church 
and  town.  Emma,  the  oldest,  married  William  Hovey  Friend,  whose 
only  surviving  child  is  William  N.  Friend  of  Oakland,  California. 
Maria  died  unmarried.  Nathaniel  Babson  died  of  tuberculosis  in 
his  early  fifties. 

JOHN1  BABSON,  the  second  son,  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  but 
accumulated  a  competency  by  buying  clams  for  bait  and  selling  them 
to  fishing  firms,  and  by  keeping  a  grocery  store  in  Riverdale.  He  had 
five  children. 

JOHN  LOW,  the  eldest,  was  accidentally  shot.  He  has  only  one 
descendant  of  the  same  name,  a  college  graduate. 

LIZZIE,  married  Samuel  Curtiss.  Several  descendants. 

OSMAN,  married  Marcia  Lee  Duley.  Several  descendants. 

Osman  Everett,  born  March  11,  1867.  Died  February  1,  1893. 
Married  Florence  Wonson,  January  12,  1892. 

Alice  Everett,  born  March  15,  1893. 

Albert  Duley,  born  November  7,  1870.  Died  April  21,  1941. 
Married  Annie  Lockwood  Rich,  October  3,  1894. 

Thomas  Everett,  born  August  2,  1895.  Married  Catherine 
Eleanor  Caithness,  September  10,  1921. 

Marcia  Lee,  born  August  11,  1922.  Married  Jack 
Melvin  Meyer,  February  15,  1945. 

John  James,  born  December  16,  1949. 

Jean  Marie,  born  April  17,  1953. 

James  Martin,  born  May  25,  1954. 

Jean  Lillias,  born  August  28,  1925.  Married  Mal¬ 
colm  Henry  Allen,  June  27,  1953. 

Laurie  Caithness,  born  March  14,  1956. 
Thomas  Babson,  born  August  25,  1957. 

Charles  Malcolm,  born  November  12,  1959. 
Nancy  Adams,  born  November  30,  1932. 

Elizabeth,  born  June  11,  1898.  Married  Carl  Edwin 
Bosch,  April  18,  1925. 

Robert  Edwin,  born  February  22,  1926,  (a  twin).  Mar¬ 
ried  Jean  Frances  Carter,  July  28,  1951. 

Eric  Edwin,  born  July  14,  1955. 


53 


Jeffrey  Carter,  born  August  21,  1953. 

Steven  Earl,  born  July  9,  1957. 

Barbara  Ann,  born  February  22,  1926,  (a  twin).  Mar¬ 
ried  Charles  Stewart  Ross,  February  7,  1948. 

Susan  Babson,  born  July  6,  1949. 

Ellen  Stewart,  born  November  4,  1951. 

Donald  Carlisle,  born  November  20,  1953. 

John  Albert,  born  March  14,  1929.  Married  Marna 
Eline  Kuntsmann,  July  10,  1954. 

Corinne  Ida,  born  October  26,  1955. 

Carl  Martin,  born  November  21,  1956. 

Kenneth  Paul,  born  January  24,  1958. 

Winifred,  born  November  6,  1899.  Married  Cecil  Stan¬ 
ley  Pleninger,  September  19,  1925. 

Stanley  Babson,  born  September  6,  1926.  Married 
Carol  Virginia  Cunningham,  April  27,  1956. 

Locke,  born  May  17,  1957. 

Ann  Phyllis,  born  April  11,  1930.  Married  Donald 
Willett  Everett,  February  28,  1953. 

Wynne,  born  December  31,  1954. 

James  Willett,  born  June  23,  1959. 

Kate  Winifred,  born  June  16,  1937.  Married  Wil¬ 
liam  Gibson  III,  December  28,  1957. 

Elmer  Warren,  born  December  31,  1874.  Married  Emma 
Gustafva  Leveau,  October  29,  1903.  Died  January  21,  1944. 
She  died  December  31,  1954. 

William  Warren,  born  April  18,  1905.  Married  Anne 
Odeneal  Wilbon,  December  11,  1937. 

William  Warren,  Jr.,  born  December  10,  1939 
(twin). 

Anne  Odeneal,  born  December  10,  1939  (twin). 
David  Elmer,  born  October  21,  1943. 

Thomas  Wilbon,  born  July  15,  1945. 

Osman  II,  born  July  2,  1908.  Married  Geraldine  Gold- 
thwaithe,  October  29,  1938. 

Karin,  born  January  21,  1940. 

Geraldine,  born  February  20,  1942. 


54 


Marcia  Lee,  born  March  25,  1944. 

Linda  Jane,  born  April  5,  1945. 

David  Leveau,  born  September  16,  1911.  Married 
Katherine  Lockhart  Allen,  September  29,  1934. 

David  Leveau,  Jr.,  born  March  28,  1938. 

Susan  Allen,  born  January  22,  1939. 

Katherine  Lockhart,  born  January  5,  1947. 

EDWARD,  left  two  daughters,  only  one  of  whom  has  a 
descendant. 

MARY  married  but  left  no  children. 

ANN  ROGERS  BABSON,  third  child  in  order  of  birth,  of 
Capt.  Nathaniel1  and  Elizabeth  Gorham  Babson,  was  a  woman  of 
marked  fortitude  and  firmness  of  character.  Her  pronouncements 
were  neither  uncertain  nor  vague.  These  characteristics  made  her  a 
valuable  woman  in  the  church  and  in  the  town  and  her  services  were 
always  given  cheerfully  and  fully.  She  was  married  to  Stephen  Low 
Davis  who  was  a  blacksmith.  His  specialty  being  iron  work  of  vessels. 
They  had  four  children,  but  only  two  lived  to  maturity.  One  was  lost 
overboard  on  a  ship  commanded  by  his  Uncle  Capt.  Ring. 

Lucy  Low  Davis,  married  John  K.  Dustin,  Dec.  17,  1868.  They  had 
nine  children,  four  dying  in  infancy. 

Annie  Rogers,  married  Dr.  N.  S.  Bacon,  Nov.  6,  1902. 

Margaret. 

Roger. 

William  Knight,  married  Lillian  S.  Bradley,  June  2,  1904. 

Eleanor. 

John  Knight. 

Florence,  married  Dr.  Alan  S.  Burnham,  October  4,  1905. 

Lucille. 

Grace. 

Edith  died  unmarried. 

Helen  Cary,  married  Robert  Wadsworth,  June  16,  1910. 

Helen. 

Harvey. 

David  Low  Davis,  married  —  1st  Martha  Mitchel,  no  issue;  2nd  Lizzie 
Whitney. 

Charles,  married. 

Robert. 

Whitney. 

Caroline. 

Carrie  W.  Davis,  unmarried. 


55 


CHARLES  BABSON,  the  third  son  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  and 
Elizabeth  Gorham  Babson,  was  a  sea  captain  and  commanded  the 
finest  vessels,  one  of  which  was  built  especially  for  him  "The  New 
Era  ”  He  was  a  very  handsome  man,  genial  and  lovable.  He  was 
once  shipwrecked  losing  everything  but  the  clothes  he  had  on.  A 
diary  that  he  had  kept  through  all  his  seafaring  life  was  included 
in  what  went  down  in  the  ship.  I  think  the  log  was  saved.  A  painting 
of  this  ship  and  one  other  is  still  preserved.  Later  he  commanded 
one  of  a  line  of  steamers  plying  between  Boston  and  New  Orleans. 
He  died  of  angina  pectoris  in  the  early  seventies.  Capt.  Charles  had 
several  children,  but  only  five  lived  to  maturity,  and  only  two  of 
them  were  married. 

Charles,  did  business  in  Boston,  died  unmarried. 

Frank,  was  a  very  capable  man,  a  broker,  but  died  of  paralysis  of  the 
brain,  also  unmarried. 

Albert  P.  was  for  a  time  in  the  fishing  business,  later  a  bookkeeper. 

Was  married,  had  four  children.  He  died  from  paralysis.  His 
children  were  — 

Grace. 

Hester. 

Dudley. 

Richard  Cedric. 

Waldo,  died  unmarried. 

Moses  S.  kept  a  grocery  shop  on  Main  Street  till  chain  stores  compelled 
him  to  give  up  business.  His  son  Gardner  is  a  capable  man. 

Gardner  P.  son  of  Moses  S.  Babson,  born  August  1,  1889,  married 
Alma  Hilta,  August  21,  19H,  (by  W.  H.  Rider). 

Dorothy  Gardner,  daughter  of  Gardner  P.,  born  October 
24,  1915. 

GUSTAVUS1  BABSON,  SR.,  the  fourth  son  of  Capt.  Nathaniel1 
and  Elizabeth  Gorham  Babson  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age  when 
his  father  died.  The  only  one  left  at  home  to  care  for  his  mother 
and  work  the  farm.  He  was  blest  with  rare  good  judgment  and  a 
will  to  work,  and  although  only  a  boy  he  began  at  once  making  such 
changes,  selling  off  old  stock  and  buying  new  as  he  thought  advan- 


56 


tageous  to  the  welfare  of  the  estate.  His  oldest  brother,  Nathaniel, 
being  administrator,  was  asked  if  he  knew  what  that  boy  was  doing 
up  there.  ’  Let  him  alone,”  said  his  brother,  "he  knows  what  he  is 
about,”  and  from  that  time  on  he  used  to  say  proudly,  "no  one  has 
said  to  me,  ’why  do  ye  so’.”  He  was  a  fine  looking  man,  intelligent, 
and  one  who  would  have  made  a  success  of  anything  he  undertook. 
Fate  made  him  a  farmer  and  he  was  an  excellent  one.  He  married 
Susan  S.  Low,  his  first  cousin  once  removed  —  his  complete  opposite 
in  every  way,  but  an  excellent  complement  to  him.  The  marriage 
was  a  very  happy  one.  He  loved  her  memory  and  never  seemed  to 
think  of  marrying  again,  although  he  survived  her  seventeen  years. 
They  had  seven  children. 

ELIZA  GORHAM  BABSON,  the  youngest  child  of  Capt.  Nathan¬ 
iel  and  Elizabeth  Gorham  Babson,  was  quite  a  different  type  from 
her  sister,  but  very  capable.  More  easily  moved,  more  apprehensive 
and  more  affable  perhaps.  She  married  Capt.  Edward  Ring  with  whom 
she  made  one  voyage.  This  voyage,  however,  was  disastrous  in  that 
her  nephew  and  another  Gloucester  boy  were  lost  overboard.  The 
only  two  that  Captain  Ring  ever  lost  for  he  was  a  very  careful  navi¬ 
gator.  His  voyages  were  generally  to  China  and  for  a  long  period 
he  sailed  between  Chinese  ports  carrying  freight.  After  his  seafaring 
days  were  over,  he  kept  a  shoe  store  on  Main  Street.  There  was  only 
one  child  by  this  marriage,  Edward  P.  Ring,  who  survived  both  parents, 
but  has  since  died  leaving  no  issue. 


57 


FAMILY  OF  GUSTAVUS2  BABSON,  SR. 


GUSTAVUS2  BABSON,  eldest  son  of  Gustavus1  and  Susan  Stan- 
wood  (Low)  Babson,  was  born  in  Gloucester,  April  3,  1848.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  until  about  15  years  of  age  and  then  took 
a  position  as  errand  boy,  with  the  idea  of  later  learning  the  business, 
with  Shreve,  Crump  &  Son,  jewellers  in  Boston.  Having,  however, 
been  used  from  birth  to  an  out  of  door  life,  the  close  atmosphere  of 
a  shop  did  not  agree  with  him  and  he  contracted  a  rheumatic  fever. 
Later  he  learned  a  machinist  trade,  but  the  confinement  there  did  not 
agree  with  his  health  and  after  conducting  an  ice  business  for  a 
season  he  formed  a  pioneer  party  and  started  West.  This  was  in 
1872,  and  he  bought  on  the  installment  plan  640  acres  near  DeWitt, 
Nebraska.  He  came  home  the  next  year  and  on  March  13,  1873, 
married  Miss  Ellen  M.  Kemp  of  Gloucester.  Returning  to  Nebraska 
they  started  their  married  life  on  his  Western  farm.  This  was  a  very 
trying  time  for  farmers  as  in  1873  and  ’74,  whole  crops  were  taken  by 
the  grasshoppers  and  always  having  had  a  turn  for  machinery  he  sold 
the  farm  to  Russians  and  took  the  agency  for  harvesters,  going  into 
the  farming  implement  business  in  Crete.  In  1876  he  took  his  business 
to  Seward  where  he  made  his  home  for  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  very  progressive  in  his  ideas  and  very  public  spirited,  often 
investing  money  in  untried  enterprises  if  he  thought  it  would  be  for 
the  good  of  the  city. 

He  was  especially  interested  in  the  public  schools  and  music  and 
was  a  promoter  in  the  broadest  sense  of  the  word.  His  first  wife,  by 
whom  he  had  six  children,  died  February  20,  1888,  and  on  June  14, 
1889,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Selma  Glen  Talbot  of  Syracuse, 
Nebraska,  by  whom  he  had  one  boy,  Paul  Talbot.  At  the  time  of  his 
death,  October  6,  1903,  all  of  his  children,  with  the  exception  of  the 
first,  an  infant  girl,  were  living. 

NATHANIEL3  BABSON,  second  son  of  Gustavus1  and  Susan 
S.  (Low)  Babson,  was  born  January  2,  1850.  At  an  early  age  he  left 
the  Gloucester  High  School  and  entered  the  dry  goods  store  of  John 
C.  Calef  &  Company  as  a  boy  to  learn  the  business.  He  had  an  apti- 


58 


tude  for  trade  and  after  spending  some  years  with  this  firm,  travelled 
as  a  salesman  for  the  Sawyer  Woolen  Mills.  This,  however,  was  only 
a  preparation  for  going  into  business  for  himself  and  for  several  years 
he  conducted  a  successful  dry  goods  store  on  Front  Street,  now  Main, 
to  the  ordinary  scope  of  which  was  added  the  making  of  bed  sacks  for 
the  fishing  fleet,  a  very  considerable  business  of  itself. 

He  married  Ellen  F.  Stearns,  July  23,  1874,  and  after  living  a 
few  years  at  38  Middle  Street  he  built  the  house  number  8  Angle 
Street  and  lived  in  it  until  his  death.  Inheriting  a  highly  nervous 
organization  he  applied  himself  very  closely  to  work,  which  resulted 
in  a  nervous  breakdown  at  a  comparatively  early  age  and  he  was  never 
able  to  resume  his  former  business.  He  had,  however,  acquired  a 
competency  sufficient  to  meet  the  expenses  of  a  family  and  his  recovery 
was  such  as  to  enable  him  to  give  efficient  service  in  looking  after 
the  ancestral  property  after  his  father’s  death  in  1897,  also  in  the 
church  of  which  he  was  deacon,  and  especially  in  the  Addison  Gilbert 
Hospital  of  which  he  was  a  trustee  till  death.  He  had  attended  a 
meeting  the  very  last  afternoon  of  his  life,  his  passing  coming  not 
many  hours  later  from  cerebral  hemorrhage,  February  12,  1927.  More, 
perhaps,  than  in  any  other  direction,  his  abilities  lay  in  excellent 
business  judgment  and  his  advice  was  much  sought  for,  not  only 
in  public  trusts  but  by  those  bereft  of  a  natural  protector  to  whom  he 
gave  cheerful  assistance.  His  wife  Ellen  Stearns  died  at  8  Angle  Street. 

SUSAN  BABSON,  third  child  of  Gustavus1  and  Susan  S.  (Low) 
Babson,  was  born  November  18,  1852.  Graduated  from  High  School 
in  1868,  she  took  an  extra  year  of  supplementary  study  and  began 
teaching  two  months  before  her  17th  birthday.  Later  she  took  courses 
at  the  Berlitz  School  of  Languages,  but  her  mother  dying  in  1880  she 
came  home  and  busied  herself  in  the  ordinary  affairs  of  the  household. 
At  the  age  of  thirty-two,  like  her  brother  Nathaniel,  she  suffered  a 
nervous  breakdown,  but  recovered  sufficiently  to  take  part  in  a  limited 
way  in  family  and  town  life.  In  collaboration  with  Mrs.  Charles  Rogers 
she  wrote  'Along  the  Old  Roads  of  Cape  Ann.” 

GEORGE  LOW  BABSON,  fourth  child  of  Gustavus1  and  Susan 
Babson,  was  named  for  grandmother  Babson’s  brother  who  was 


59 


drowned  at  sea  in  his  18th  year.  He  was  the  youngest  boy,  born 
June  15,  1855  and  grew  up  on  the  farm.  He  liked  farming,  was  a 
tireless  and  energetic  worker,  which  added  to  progressiveness  and 
enterprise,  made  him  a  fine  complement  to  his  father’s  excellent  judg¬ 
ment.  He  married  Mary  H.  Saunders  of  Lanesville,  February  14, 
1883,  and  went  to  housekeeping  at  once  in  the  house  now  known  as 
the  parsonage  of  the  Rev.  John  Rogers,  which  his  father  intended  to 
give  him  as  a  wedding  present.  It  was  a  short  story.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  New  Year  he  was  taken  ill  of  typhoid  fever  and 
died  at  his  father’s  house  February  20,  1884.  His  wife  died  a  few 
years  later.  There  was  no  issue  from  this  marriage.  The  loss  of  this 
promising  son  to  his  father  can  hardly  be  estimated.  His  beloved  wife 
had  died  four  years  before  and  now  the  prop  of  his  old  age  was  gone. 
He  was  plunged  in  grief,  but  still  carried  on  his  work  in  a  less  extensive 
way,  thirteen  years  longer. 

ANN  PRENTISS  BABSON,  named  for  her  mother’s  sister  who 
died  when  quite  a  young  woman,  was  born  January  15,  1858.  Edu¬ 
cated  in  the  Gloucester  Public  Schools,  she  graduated  from  the  High 
School  in  1873.  She  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage  with 
Charles  S.  Ailing  of  Bangall,  New  York,  December  2,  1884,  when 
she  went  to  live  in  Seward,  Nebraska,  where  her  husband  was  in 
business.  Later  they  built  a  house  making  their  home  there  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Ailing,  August  19,  1894.  Two  children  were  already 
born  to  them  and  with  one  more  born  in  less  than  a  month  after  Mr. 
Ailing’s  death,  it  seemed  for  every  reason  wiser  to  sell  the  house  in 
Seward  and  come  back  to  her  father’s  house  where  conditions  were 
particularly  acceptable  to  her  home  coming.  Of  especial  comfort  in 
ministering  to  her  father  during  a  trying  sickness;  after  his  death  she 
took  an  active  interest  with  brother  Nathaniel  in  carrying  on  the  place, 
and  since  the  latter’s  death  she  has  been  almost  entirely  responsible  for 
the  attractive  surroundings  of  the  house.  A  Seward  paper  commenting 
on  Mr.  Ailing’s  death,  says,  "He  was  a  successful  business  man  and 
enjoyed  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
He  was  a  successful  applicant  for  the  position  of  postmaster  under 
the  present  administration  and  was  giving  excellent  satisfaction  as  a 
public  official.”  He  had  a  very  kind  heart  and  pleasant  disposition. 


60 


ELIZABETH  LOW,  named  for  her  mother’s  only  surviving 
ou’ti  sister,  was  the  sixth  child  of  Gustavus1  and  Susan  S.  Babson. 
She  was  born  November  6,  1859.  Born  with  an  even  temperament, 
her  childhood  showed  a  placidity  of  disposition  which  later  developed 
strength  of  character  combined  with  ability  to  take  large  and  charitable 
views  of  life  and  its  problems. 

Physically  she  was  small  of  stature  and  never  at  any  time  stout. 
She  favored  her  mother  in  looks  perhaps  more  than  any  of  the  other 
children,  her  broad  forehead,  bright  eye  and  pleasant  smile  making 
her  face  attractive  rather  than  pretty. 

She  graduated  from  the  Gloucester  High  School  in  1875  and 
having  a  taste  for  art  took  lessons  in  drawing  as  opportunity  offered. 
Later  she  attended  the  school  connected  with  the  Museum  of  Fine 
Arts  in  Boston  for  two  years,  meanwhile  giving  elementary  lessons  to 
children.  She  never  considered  herself  an  artist  but  said  she  never 
regretted  the  time  spent  on  art  as  it  gave  her  an  appreciation  of  good 
work.  She  painted  some  china,  but  of  the  little  work  she  left  her 
father's  portrait  in  crayon  is  the  principal  piece.  The  tubercular  con¬ 
dition  of  her  lungs,  which  made  its  appearance  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six,  although  held  in  abeyance  several  years  by  living  winters  in  a 
milder  climate,  finally  after  an  attack  of  grippe  assumed  a  more  virulent 
character  and  proved  fatal  at  the  age  of  thirty-two.  She  died  October 
25,  1892.  She  bore  her  sufferings  and  the  knowledge  of  a  certain  end 
with  great  fortitude  and  cheerfulness  and  it  might  be  truly  said  that 
it  was  her  valiant  spirit  rather  than  death  that  won  the  victory. 

LUCY  STANWOOD  BABSON,  youngest  child  of  Susan  and 
Gustavus1  Babson,  named  for  her  maternal  grandmother,  was  born 
May  l7,  1864.  After  completing  her  studies  in  the  public  schools, 
she  remained  at  home,  busying  herself  with  domestic  and  charitable 
affairs  until  her  marriage  with  William  M.  Jelly,  February  19,  1901. 

Mr.  Jelly  occupied  the  position  of  teller  in  the  Salem  Five  Cent 
Savings  Bank  and  their  first  home  was  on  Summer  Street  of  that  city. 
Later  they  removed  to  a  house  they  had  built  on  Beckford  Street. 
The  lots  upon  which  it  was  built  having  been  previously  owned  by 


61 


Mr.  Jelly’s  father.  Besides  being  actively  engaged  in  various  charities 
and  taking  a  great  interest  in  floriculture,  her  special  accomplishment 
is  wood  carving,  several  examples  of  which  attest  her  ability  in  that  art. 

Mr.  Jelly  died  from  angina  pectoris,  January  3,  1929,  but  some 
years  before  his  death  he  resigned  from  his  position  at  the  bank  in 
which  he  had  served  with  great  acceptability.  The  appreciation  of  the 
bank  officials  was  shown  by  the  presentation  of  a  gold  watch  and 
making  him  a  trustee  in  token  of  his  faithful  service.  From  that  time 
until  his  death  his  life  was  passed  in  positions  of  trust  connected  with 
Salem  institutions  notably  the  Salem  Oratorio  Society  of  which  he  was 
the  inspiration  and  treasurer. 

One  child  was  born  to  them,  Donald  Babson  Jelly,  born  March 
25,  1903,  who  later  lived  in  a  house  on  the  same  street,  purchased  and 
renovated  by  his  mother  and  given  to  him  at  marriage. 

Donald  married  Elizabeth  Ingraham,  and  they  had  two  children 
as  follows  from  this  first  wife:  Cynthia  and  Donald  Jr. 

On  December  4,  1948,  he  married  Martha  Jane  Gammon  as  his 
second  wife. 

Donald  died  April  12,  1952.  He  had  no  children  with  this 
second  wife.  His  mother  died  February  25,  1958. 

Believing  that  the  author  of  this  book,  Robert  Babson  Ailing, 
has  been  too  modest  regarding  his  immediate  Family,  the  revisors 
of  the  book  wish  to  give  further  details  regarding  the  children  and 
grandchildren  of  Gustavus  Babson,  Senior,  who  lived  and  died  at 
245  Washington  Street,  Gloucester.  He  had  four  girls  and  three 
boys,  all  noted  in  the  previous  text.  The  sons  and  their  children 
should  receive  some  further  notation  as  follows: 

Gustavus  Babson,  Jr.,  who  went  to  Seward,  Nebraska,  and  became 
an  important  factor  in  the  development  of  the  State  economically. 
It  is  said  that  he  owned  the  first  automobile  and  motor  boat  in 
Nebraska;  he  instituted  a  telephone  and  electric  light  system,  organ¬ 
ized  the  local  band,  and  was  noted  for  his  progressive  initiative.  His 
own  business  was  selling  agricultural  implements,  with  headquarters 
in  Seward,  and  branches  in  adjoining  cities.  The  second  son  was 


62 


George  who  stayed  on  the  farm  at  Gloucester  and  died  of  typhoid 
fever.  This  was  a  great  blow  to  the  entire  family,  especially  to  his 
father  Gustavus.  The  third  son,  Nathaniel,  also  remained  in  Gloucester 
as  a  successful  merchant. 

Now  as  to  the  four  girls:  The  girls  were  married,  namely, 
Annie  who  married  Charles  S.  Ailing  of  Seward,  Nebraska.  She  had 
three  children;  Robert  who  compiled  this  book;  Margaret  who 
married  Dwight  Sargent,  who  holds  a  very  responsible  position  in 
charge  of  personnel  for  the  New  York  Edison  Company  and  lives  at 
Dobbs  Ferry;  and  Elizabeth  who  is  not  married,  but  has  taken  care 
of  the  Aunt  until  their  deaths.  She  has  been  most  useful  in  Gloucester 
civic  work,  since  returning  from  her  teaching  in  Italy.  Lucy  married 
William  Jelly  of  Salem.  They  had  one  son,  Donald,  details  of  whom 
are  covered  in  previous  pages.  Elizabeth,  who  remained  at  home 
was  an  artist  and,  among  other  good  works,  was  very  prominent  in 
the  Cape  Ann  Literary  and  Historical  Association.  Lizzie  died  of 
tuberculosis. 

Gustavus,  Jr.,  who  lived  at  Seward,  Nebraska  had  five  sons  by 
his  first  wife,  Ellen  Kemp,  and  one  by  his  second  wife  Glen  Talbot, 
namely  Paul  Talbot  Babson.  All  these  sons  have  been  very  successful, 
although  "Sandy”  died  at  an  early  age.  Henry,  Fred,  and  Nick  formed 
a  partnership,  called  Babson  Brothers  of  Chicago,  and  made  a  con¬ 
nection  with  Thomas  A.  Edison  and  helped  to  sell  his  products.  These 
men  also  had  the  courage  and  energy  to  sell  on  installments  by  mail. 
They  were  the  first  to  do  this  in  the  United  States,  aided  by  the  Gun- 
lack  Advertising  Agency.  Its  growth  was  so  rapid  and  the  Babson 
Brothers’  losses  so  small  that  other  concerns  quickly  copied  their 
installment  selling  program.  Both  Sears,  Roebuck  &  Company  and 
Montgomery -Ward  probably  owe  their  start  to  the  pioneer  work  of 
Henry  Babson  and  his  Babson  Brothers.  The  youngest  brother  George, 
known  as  "Jonah”  went  into  the  milking  machine  business  with  head¬ 
quarters  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  a  branch  at  Syracuse,  New  York. 
This  company  in  which  Henry  and  several  others  of  the  Family  are 
now  active  is  said  to  be  "milking”  more  than  one-half  of  the  cows 
east  of  the  Ohio  River! 


63 


This  leaves  one  more  brother,  Paul  Talbot,  who  has  paddled 
his  own  canoe!  Further  details  regarding  him  and  the  other  brothers 
will  be  found  on  previous  pages;  including  his  marriage  to  Edith 
Yungblut  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  who  has  been  a  great  help  to  him. 
Paul  entered  the  Investment  Advisory  business  on  a  shoe  string  and  — 
through  the  United  Business  Service  —  became  very  successful  due  to 
his  extraordinary  industry  and  salesmanship.  He  has  become  one  of 
New  England’s  leading  philanthropists,  especially  in  connection  with 
National  and  International  Y.M.C.A.  work.  He  has  been  honored 
as  the  Leading  Churchman  Of  The  Year,  and  in  other  ways.  His 
mother  lived  with  him  until  her  95th  year,  when  she  died  May  1,  1959- 
He  has  one  son,  Donald,  who  will  carry  on  the  successful  work  of  his 
father,  but  as  to  the  details  of  this  next  generation,  we  must  refer 
readers  to  previous  pages. 

SUSAN  STANWOOD  LOW  was  the  youngest  child  of  David 
and  Lucy  Low,  and  mother  of  the  foregoing  children,  was  born  August 
31,  1820,  and  lived  in  the  large  square  house,  at  the  northern  side  of 
the  "Green,”  built  by  her  father  in  1793.  She  married  Gustavus1 
Babson,  her  first  cousin  once  removed,  June  12,  1845,  and  directly  after 
marriage  came  to  live  in  the  gambrell-roof  house  now  lived  in  by  their 
descendants. 

She  was  by  nature  a  strong,  healthy  woman  —  not  handsome,  but 
very  fresh  looking,  of  a  pleasing  countenance  and  agreeable  manner, 
of  strong  social  instincts  with  a  good  sense  of  humor,  a  great  helpmate 
to  her  husband  and  fond  of  social  life.  She  probably  drew  too  heavily 
on  her  strength  and  died  of  pneumonia  May  10,  1880,  at  the  early  age 
of  fifty-nine,  leaving  her  family,  her  church  and  a  large  circle  of  friends 
to  mourn  her  loss. 

She  was  a  devoted  member  of  Trinity  Congregational  Church, 
a  worker  in  the  Female  Charitable  Society,  then  the  only  organization 
for  relieving  the  poor  and  always  thoughtful  of  others.  Especially  was 
she  a  friend  to  a  group  who  were  not  recipients  of  organized  charity, 
but  were  glad  of  a  little  friendly  help  to  make  their  burdens  lighter. 
For  many  years  Thanksgiving  pies  were  sent  out  to  this  little  circle 
and  after  her  death  the  custom  was  followed  by  her  children  so  long 
as  any  remained.  All  her  children  survived  her  and  her  memory  was 
held  by  them  in  loving  remembrance. 


64 


FAMILY  OF  GUSTAVUS2  BABSON,  Junior 

ALICE,  born  June,  1874,  died  February  5,  1875. 

HENRY  BLAKE,  born  December  1,  1875,  married  Laura  Davis, 
August  1,  1907,  who  died  May  1959. 

Elizabeth  Simpson,  born  March  17,  19 16.  Married  on 
December  3,  1936,  Theodore  David  Tieken.  They  had 
the  following  three  children: 

Nancy  Babson  Tieken,  born  November  9,  1940. 
Theodore  David  Tieken,  Jr.,  born  December  19,  1944. 
Elizabeth  Chapman  Tieken,  born  November  19,  1946. 
Henry  Blake,  Jr.,  born  December  20,  1917,  died  May  19, 
1925. 

FRED  KEMP,  born  June  22,  1877,  married  Franc  Palmer, 
September  7,  1898. 

Doris  Palmer,  born  July  23,  1900.  Married  Thomas  Wright 
Merritt,  May  24,  1924.  They  had  the  following  child: 

Thomas,  Jr.,  born  July  11,  1928.  Married  Nancy  Shurt- 
leff,  June  23,  1951.  They  have  four  children:  — 
Susan  Elizabeth  Merritt,  born  June  24,  1952. 
Cynthia  Ann  Merritt,  born  April  2,  1954. 

Ann  Shurtleff  Merritt,  born  May  26,  1957,  and  her 
twin  brother 

John  Babson  Merritt,  born  May  26,  1957. 

SANFORD  EDWIN,  born  June  8,  1880,  married  Nelly  Smoyer, 

September  14,  1905,  died  December,  1923.  They  had  the 
following  children: 

Florence,  born  July  18,  1907,  died  June  14,  1908. 

Barbara,  born  March  11,  1909- 
Sanford  Louis,  born  December  31,  1910. 

Robert  Gustavus,  born  November  5,  1913. 

Edwin  Kemp,  born  June  3,  1917. 

GUSTAVUS3,  III,  born  March  18,  1882,  married  Ethel  Norval 
September  7,  1905.  Died  January  28,  1941,  at  Miami 
Beach,  Fla. 


65 


Gustavus4,  IV,  born  May  31,  1910.  Married  Jean  MacArthur, 
December  28,  1935.  They  had  three  children: 

Barbara,  born  November  17,  1936. 

Susan,  born  February  18,  1938.  Married  John  Findlay 
of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  April  10,  1957. 

Ann  Elizabeth,  born  October  8,  1940. 

Married  second  wife,  Carolyn  Ross  February  8,  1949. 
Martha  Gray,  born  November  22,  1949. 

Gustavus  V,  born  March  31,  1951. 

David  Ross,  born  February  2,  1954. 

Richard  Norval,  born  January  9,  1917,  died  February  19, 
1918. 

James  Arthur,  born  December  2,  1919.  Married  Jean 
Holmes,  December  6,  1944. 

Nicholas,  born  September  18,  1946. 

Steven,  born  July  7,  1948. 

Cynthia,  born  June  5,  1950. 

Henry  B.,  II,  born  September  9,  1953. 

Jeanie,  born  April  23,  1955. 

GEORGE  LOW,  born  November  8,  1885,  married  Gladys  Ralston. 
Jane,  born  February  28,  1915,  died  December  25,  1915. 

John  Ralston,  born  May  28,  1917.  Married  May  30,  1942. 
George  Low,  Jr.,  November  24,  1920.  Married  T.  Lorraine 
Smith,  December  14,  1945,  who  was  born  April  13,  1919. 
Patricia  Lee,  born  July  7,  1952. 

George  Low,  III,  born  March  11,  1954. 

Barbara  Ann,  born  April  9,  1956. 

PAUL  TALBOT,  son  by  second  marriage,  born  November  22, 
1894,  married  Edith  Yungblut,  February  26,  1919.  One 
child:  — 

Donald  Paul,  born  January  1,  1924.  Married  Susan  Charlotte 
Averill  June  10,  1949. 

Averill,  born  May  7,  1951. 

Paul  Talbot,  II,  born  May  10,  1953. 

James  Adams,  born  June  22,  1954. 

Deborah  Edith,  born  December  8,  1955. 

Richard  Low,  born  April  11,  1958. 


66 


FAMILY  OF  NATHANIEL2  BABSON 


(Second  son  of  Gustavus1  &  Susan  Stanwood  Babson) 

ROGER  WARD,  born  July  6,  1875,  married  Grace  M.  Knight, 
March  29,  1900.  They  had  one  child: 

Edith  Low,  married  W.  Lewis  Webber,  December  8,  1923. 
Roger  Babson  Webber,  born  November  17,  1924. 
Camilla  Grace  Webber,  born  April  6,  1927. 

Michael  Webber,  born  November  21,  1929,  drowned 
August,  1947. 

Judith  Knight  Webber,  born  June  5,  1934. 

Marlene  Mustard,  with  second  husband,  Louis  Mustard, 
Jr.,  born  May  5,  1944. 

EDITH  LOW,  born  March  15,  1880,  drowned  August  26,  1893. 

ALICE  STEARNS,  born  March  20,  1884,  married  W.  Stewart 
Whittemore,  March  14,  1910. 

Frederick  Webster,  born  October  23,  1912. 

Richard  Howland,  born  September  25,  1916. 

Eleanor,  born  May  20,  1920. 


67 


FAMILY  OF  ANN  PRENTISS  ALLING 

ROBERT  BABSON  ALLING,  born  September  5,  1887,  died  June 
12,  1929.  Married  Irene  Brown,  January  25,  1917. 

John,  born  February  10,  1918. 

James  Tyrrel,  born  November  6,  1919. 

Mary,  born  May  21,  1921. 

Ann,  born  September  5,  1922. 

Susan  Babson,  born  November  22,  1924. 

Elizabeth,  born  January  10,  1926. 

GRANDCHILDREN  OF  ROBERT  B.  ALLING: 

John  Ailing  married  Joan  Donaldson  November  14,  1942. 

John  died  July  15,  1950. 

Mary  married  Samuel  R.  Gregg  June  22,  1946. 

Susan  Ailing  Lynch’s  5th  child,  Austin  Canavan  Lynch, 
born  November  5,  1958. 

For  complete  summary  see  next  page. 

ELIZABETH  LANGWORTHY,  born  June  11,  1889. 

MARGARET,  born  September  19,  1894.  Married  Dwight  Swett 
Sargent  February  7,  1920. 

David  Rutledge,  born  December  21,  1920.  Married  Jane 
Oman  June  6,  1942. 

Karen,  born  March  28,  1944. 

Ann  Rutledge,  born  January  14,  1947. 

Dwight  Oman,  born  June  5,  1950. 

Carl  Robert,  born  April  6,  1952. 

David  R.,  Jr.,  born  April  5,  1955. 

Elizabeth  Ann,  born  March  20,  1924.  Married  Charles 
Douglass  Ford  January  14,  1950. 

Charles  Alfred,  born  February  24,  1951. 

Peter  Low,  born  July  10,  1952. 

Margaret  Ann,  born  October  28,  1956. 

Susan  Kendall,  born  May  1,  1958. 


68 


SUMMARY  OF  CHILDREN  AND  GRANDCHILDREN  OF 
ROBERT  B.  ALLING  AND  IRENE  ALLING. 


JOHN  ALLING,  born  February  10,  1918,  died  July  1950. 
Married  Joan  Donaldson  in  Detroit,  November  1942. 
Robert  Babson  Ailing  II,  born  April  5,  1946. 

Martha  Ailing,  born  March  30,  1948. 

JAMES  TIRRELL  ALLING,  born  November  6,  1919,  married 
Josephine  Smith  in  Ann  Arbor,  February  28,  1948.  She  was 
born  in  Detroit,  November  15,  1924. 

Jesse  Terrill  Ailing,  born  December  3,  1951  (Jesse  is  a  girl). 
Jill  Johnson  Ailing,  born  June  12,  1955. 

Jane  Duncan  Ailing,  born  August  6,  1957. 

MARY  ALLING,  born  May  21,  1921,  married  Samuel  R.  Gregg 
June  22,  1946. 

William  Finley  Gregg,  born  May  19,  1949. 

Susan  Ailing  Gregg,  born  June  1,  1950. 

Martha  Gregg,  born  September  20,  1951. 

John  Ailing  Gregg,  born  August  31,  1953. 

Annabel  Gregg,  born  November  6,  1956. 

SUSAN  BABSON  ALLING,  born  November  21,  1924,  married 
Francis  J.  Lynch,  December  27,  1947. 

Laura  Stanwood  Lynch,  born  January  24,  1949. 

Sarah  Gibbons  Lynch,  born  August  17,  1952. 

David  Patrick  Lynch,  born  March  28,  1955. 

Daniel  Alexander  Lynch,  born  July  10,  1957. 

Austin  Canavan  Lynch,  born  November  5,  1958. 

ANN  ALLING,  born  September  5,  1923,  married  Joseph  Ward 
Edwards,  February  1,  1947. 

Susan  Edwards,  born  October  8,  1947. 

Thomas  James  Edwards,  born  November  17,  1950. 

Elizabeth  Brown  Edwards,  born  November  17,  1950. 
Christopher  Martin  Edwards,  born  June  19,  1952. 

Margaret  Ailing  Edwards,  born  March  28,  1956. 

ELIZABETH  BABSON  ALLING,  born  January  9,  1926,  married 
Alexander  Grosvenor  Donaldson,  January  12,  1952. 

Claire  Donaldson,  born  December  20,  1954. 

Neal  Alexander  Donaldson,  born  May  5,  1957. 

69 


OBITUARY  NOTICE 
Mr.  Gustavus1  Babson 


Moreover,  perhaps  the  fairest  description  of  this  man  occurs  in 
the  following  published  obituary  at  the  time  of  his  death  October 
25,  1897,  in  Gloucester,  Mass. 

"Mr.  Gustavus  Babson  who  has  been  sick  at  his  residence  on 
Washington  Street  for  several  months,  passed  away  from  earth’s  scenes 
about  3  o’clock  Monday  afternoon.  Though  his  condition  had  been 
serious  for  several  days  and  it  was  seemed  that  he  could  hardly  recover, 
his  death  came  suddenly,  his  condition  being  such  that  it  was  expected 
that  he  would  survive  for  some  time,  but  blood  poisoning  set  in 
causing  heart  failure. 

Mr.  Babson  was  a  direct  descendant  of  two  of  the  earliest  fami¬ 
lies  of  the  Cape,  being  a  descendant  on  his  father’s  side  in  the  seventh 
generation  of  Isabel  Babson,  who  with  her  son  James  first  appears  on 
the  record  about  1632,  and  who  imigrated  from  England,  coming  to 
Gloucester  from  Salem  and  were  the  sole  emigrants  to  New  England 
of  that  name.  On  his  mother’s  side  he  was  a  descendant  of  Capt. 

John  Gorham,  through  John  Low,  Jr.,  who  married  Lucy  Rogers, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Gorham  Rogers.  His  ancestor,  Capt. 
Gorham  traced  his  descent  from  DeGorram  de  la  tanniere,  on  the 
borders  of  Brittany,  and  was  born  at  Plymouth,  to  which  place  his 
father  had  come  from  England.  Eliza  Gorham,  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Lucy  Low,  became  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Babson,  the  father  of  the 
de'ceased. 

He  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Eliza  Gorham  (Low)  Babson 
and  was  born  in  the  old  homestead  near  the  Riverdale  Green  which  has 
been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  for  over  a  century,  and  in  which 
he  died.  Of  his  family  of  six  children  there  now  remains  but  two 
survivors,  Mr.  John  Low  Babson  of  Riverdale  and  Mrs.  Eliza  G.  widow 
of  Capt.  Edward  P.  Ring.  Those  of  the  family  who  had  previously 
deceased  were  Nathaniel,  the  oldest  of  the  family,  who  died  Mar.  30, 
1863,  in  the  53rd  year  of  his  age;  Mrs.  Ann  R.,  widow  of  Stephen  L. 
Davis,  who  passed  away  Nov.  18,  1881,  at  the  age  of  67  years,  Charles 
the  well  known  sea  captain,  who  died  Aug.  2,  1892,  at  the  age  of  75. 

Mr.  Babson  was  a  sturdy  type  of  the  old  style  New  England 
farmer.  During  his  long  life  he  carried  on  the  large  farm  connected 


70 


with  his  residence,  and  his  cheery  though  somewhat  bluff  manner 
carried  with  it  a  conviction  of  his  honesty  and  integrity.  Although 
he  was  a  close  observer  of  political  life,  he  never  accepted  political 
office.  He  was  a  member  of  the  famous  "Know-nothing”  Organization 
and  afterwards  of  the  Republican  party,  but  followed  the  latter  only 
in  state  and  national  affairs  preferring  to  be  independent  in  local 
affairs. 

"Typical  of  his  belief  that  local  politics  should  be  divorced  from 
party,  during  the  early  years  of  city  government  he  was  approached 
by  the  ward  committee  with  the  request  that  he  allow  the  use  of  his 
name  as  a  candidate  for  alderman,  which  was  equivalent  to  an  election 
but  declined  the  honor  from  a  party  standpoint,  although  signifying 
his  willingness  to  accept  the  nomination  as  an  independent  candidate.” 

Mr.  Babson  married  Susan  S.  Low,  June  12,  1845,  who  died  May 
10,  1880,  at  the  age  of  59  years  and  8  months.  He  leaves  five  children 
Gustavus  Jr.  of  Seward,  Nebraska,  Nathaniel,  Susan,  Mrs.  Annie  P., 
widow  of  Charles  S.  Ailing,  and  Lucy  S.,  two  children  have  preceded 
him  to  the  land  where  no  parting  takes  place,  George  L.,  who  died 
February  4,  1884,  at  the  age  of  28  years  and  8  months,  and  Lizzie  L., 
who  died  October  25,  1892,  in  her  33rd  year. 

His  funeral  will  take  place  from  his  late  residence,  199  Washing¬ 
ton  Street,  tomorrow  afternoon  at  2:30  o’clock,  Rev.  Mr.  Hibbard 
officiating.  Relatives  and  friends  are  invited  to  attend  without  further 
notice. 


71 


OBITUARY  NOTICE 


Gustavus2  Babson,  Jr. 

And  His  Descendants. 

The  oldest  son  of  Gustavus1  Babson  was  known  as  GUSTAVUS 
BABSON,  Jr.,  and  the  following  newspaper  accounts  published  at 
his  death  are  of  interest. 

GUSTAVUS  BABSON  was  born  in  Gloucester,  Mass.,  April 
23,  1848,  and  died  Oct.  6,  1903,  aged  55  years  5  months  and  13  days. 

In  1872  he  came  to  Nebraska,  and  settled  on  a  piece  of  railroad  land 
near  DeWitt,  Saline  County.  Four  years  later  he  removed  to  Crete  and 
engaged  in  the  implement  business,  and  remained  there  until  1878, 
when  he  came  to  Seward  to  engage  in  the  same  business. 

Mr.  Babson  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  Ellen  M. 
Kemp  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  on  March  13th,  1872,  who  died  in  Seward, 

Feb.  20,  1888.  To  them  were  born  five  sons,  Henry  B.,  Fred  K., 
Sanford  E.,  Gustavus,  and  George  L.,  all  of  whom  survive.  On  June 
14,  1889,  he  was  again  married  to  Miss  Glen  Talbot  of  Syracuse,  who 
with  one  son,  Paul  T.,  survives  him. 

As  a  business  man  Mr.  Babson  was  a  success,  and  from  a  small 
establishment  here  in  Seward  his  implement  business  developed  to  its 
present  size,  which,  besides  the  main  establishment  here  at  Seward,  now 
includes  branches  at  Utica,  Milford  and  Stablehurst. 

"As  a  citizen  he  was  progressive,  and  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  towards  the  establishment  or  maintenance  of  any  worthy  enter¬ 
prise  that  would  in  any  way  be  of  benefit  to  the  town.  He  helped 
establish  the  Morris  Lock  Co.  here,  which  was  later  removed  to  Indian¬ 
apolis,  Ind.,  also  the  canning  factory.  In  connection  with  the  late 
John  Cattle  he  built  the  present  electric  light  plant,  and  while  con¬ 
nected  with  the  fire  department  a  number  of  years  ago  he  was  instru¬ 
mental  in  establishing  the  old  "Firemens  Library,”  which  was  the 
beginning  of  the  city’s  present  excellent  library.  He  also  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  public  schools  and  served  for  a  number  of  years 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education.  Although  a  high  license 
man  at  heart,  yet  he  became  convinced  that  the  saloons  of  Seward 
were  abusing  their  privileges  and  last  spring  took  an  active  part  in 
the  movement  for  a  more  strict  enforcement  of  the  law. 


72 


"As  an  individual  Mr.  Babson  had  his  good  qualities  and  his 
faults  —  the  same  as  every  other  human  being  —  his  friends  and  his 
enemies.  But  it  mattered  not  to  him  whether  his  actions  met  with  the 
approval  of  the  public  or  not  if  he  was  convinced  that  he  was  right  he 
would  go  ahead  even  though  he  stood  alone.  He  was  of  a  positive 
nature  - —  an  upright  business  man,  citizen  and  individual,  whose  death 
removed  from  the  community  a  man  who  will  long  be  missed  by  the 
public  generally. 

MR.  BABSON  was  a  son  of  the  late  Gustavus  and  Susan 
(Low)  Babson,  and  was  born  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the  old 
Babson  Homestead  on  Washington  Street.  When  a  young  man  he 
decided  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  west,  and  was  one  of  a  pioneer  party 
who  went  to  Seward.  He  soon  displayed  keen  business  instincts, 
and  as  time  passed  he  became  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the 
place.  He  possessed  much  energy,  and  to  his  efforts,  to  a  great  extent, 
was  due  the  business  success  of  the  city.  He  was  always  willing  to 
push  an  enterprise  for  the  benefit  of  his  adopted  town,  and  seldom 
did  anything  but  success  crown  his  efforts. 

The  business  in  which  he  was  most  interested  was  the  sale  of 
farming  implements.  He  commenced  this  enterprise  on  a  small  scale 
but  it  constantly  grew  until  many  branches  were  established. 

He  was  much  interested  in  public  affairs  of  Seward,  and  served 
as  chief  of  the  fire  department  and  on  the  school  committee.  Outside 
of  these  offices  he  refused  to  serve,  although  a  strong  movement  was 
on  foot  to  make  him  mayor. 

BABSON  HOMESTEAD 

245  Washington  Street,  was  built  by  Joseph  Allen  about  1740,  on 
land  purchased  of  Stephen  Robinson.  Joseph  Allen  deeded  it  to  his  son 
William,  who  sold  it  to  Isaac  Smith  in  1765.  Smith  sold  it  to  John 
Low,  Jr.,  Dec.  18,  1779-  It  was  deeded  from  John  Low,  Jr.,  to  his 
daughters  Lucy  and  Eliza  G.  Low.  As  Lucy  died  without  issue,  it 
deeded  through  Eliza  G.  to  her  children  by  Nathaniel  Babson.  Her 
youngest  son  Gustavus  bought  out  the  other  heirs  in  1863  (Feb.  6) 
at  a  valuation  of  $3600.  John  Low,  Jr.  paid  8750  £  Sterling,  about 
$43,000  probably  in  Continental  money  which  was  much  depreciated 
at  that  time,  (1779).  It  was  probably  worth  at  that  time  about  $2000 


73 


gold  as  the  purchase  did  not  include  the  orchard  just  north  of  the 
house. 

The  title  to  the  property  remained  sometime  undivided  in  the  Est. 
of  Gustavus  Babson  who  died  in  1897.  The  "L”  was  probably  not 
built  when  the  house  was  built.  Originally  there  was  no  connection 
between  the  front  and  back  of  the  east  end  of  the  house.  Gustavus 
Babson,  Sr.,  when  he  was  married  cut  doors  in  the  panelled  room  and 
chamber  over  it,  also  put  a  partition  across  the  back  kitchen  in  1845, 
which  before  then  was  a  large  open  space.  After  his  death  some  few 
alterations  were  made  for  convenience,  but  the  rooms  remain  substan¬ 
tially  the  same.  The  fireplace  in  the  north  kitchen  now  used  as  a  parlor 
was  originally  very  large,  as  Grandmother  Eliza  G.  used  to  tell  of 
sitting  in  the  fireplace  and  drawing  the  fire  doors  in  front  of  her. 

The  house  has  been  occupied  mostly  by  the  family  since 
its  purchase  in  1779.  There  was  a  short  period  after  the  death  of 
John  Low,  Jr.,  in  1801,  when  it  was  unoccupied  and  had  the  reputa¬ 
tion  of  being  haunted.  The  apartments  under  the  gambrel  roof  were 
used  as  slave  pens.  Col.  Allen  is  said  to  have  owned  slaves.  The 
writer  talked  with  old  Lady  Cogswell  who  remembered  two  named 
Hat  and  Victor. 

The  garden  in  front  of  the  house  has  been  planted  continuously 
over  100  years.  About  the  year  1880  two  skeletons  were  dug  up 
directly  in  front  of  the  house.  In  my  boyhood  two  mammouth  mul¬ 
berry  trees  grew  on  one  side  of  the  garden  whose  long  limbs  reached 
nearly  to  the  other  side. 

On  Dec.  18,  1879,  the  descendants  with  their  wives  and  children 
to  the  number  of  40  to  50  assembled  at  the  homestead  to  celebrate 
the  centennial  of  its  purchase.  I  well  remember  it,  we  had  a  royal 
good  time. 

The  tall  clock  in  the  sitting  room  has  stood  in  that  corner  more 
than  125  years  and  by  the  wish  of  Gustavus  Babson,  the  last  individual 
owner,  should  stand  there  as  long  as  the  house  is  occupied  by  any  who 
have  Babson  blood  in  their  veins. 


74 


ANTIQUE  COLLECTIONS 
1895 


The  Antique  exhibition  given  by  the  ladies  of  the  Congregational 
Church  last  evening,  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Gustavus  Babson,  Wash¬ 
ington  Street,  proved  a  highly  enjoyable  and  interesting  occasion. 

For  an  event  of  this  kind,  the  old  Babson  homestead  could  hardly 
be  excelled,  reminders  of  antiquity  being  on  every  hand. 

Last  evening  the  old  house  bore  a  very  brilliant  appearance.  As 
in  olden  times,  candles  were  used  for  illumination,  which  in  the  elab¬ 
orate  candelabras  shed  their  bright  rays  of  light  on  the  countless  old 
historic  and  valuable  collection. 

Each  room  contained  its  own  particular  portion  of  the  exhibit. 
In  the  sitting  room  could  be  found  a  collection  of  ancient  pictures, 
newspapers  and  deeds,  all  having  the  age  of  a  century  upon  them. 

In  the  centre  of  the  room  was  a  large  eight  legged  table  from  the 
Ellery  house,  upon  which  was  a  very  rare  collection  of  valuable  old 
volumes  which  would  delight  the  most  ardent  bibiicmaniac. 

A  green  glass  showcase  in  one  corner  attracted  the  attention  of 
many  a  young  lady.  It  contained  an  excellent  assortment  of  silverware, 
such  as  spoons,  old  knives  and  forks,  snuff  boxes  and  other  articles, 
which  during  this  period  of  the  silver  collecting  mania  would  beauti¬ 
fully  adorn  a  lady’s  dressing  case. 

Rare  bits  of  chinaware,  which  had  been  handed  down  from  gener¬ 
ation  to  generation,  originally  brought  over  by  Gloucester  sea  captains 
scores  of  years  ago,  were  advantageously  displayed  in  the  parlor. 

Upstairs,  in  one  room  was  a  collection  of  old  gowns,  poke  bonnets, 
and  other  wearing  apparel,  which  had  adorned  the  graceful  figures  of 
Cape  Ann’s  great-great-grandmothers. 

One  dress  was  particularly  noticeable,  it  having  balloon  sleeves 
and  only  differed  from  the  present  fashion  being  less  blown  up,  and 
was  made  skin-tight  about  the  wrists.  In  this  room  a  fine  line  of 
fancy  work  was  also  displayed  made  years  and  years  ago,  and  exhibited 
the  skill  in  which  the  women  of  those  days  handled  the  needle.  The 
Kensington  stitch  was  seen  on  many  pieces  of  work  and  was  very 
finely  wrought. 

In  the  adjoining  rooms  old  fashioned  bedding,  spinning  wheels, 
distaffs,  beside  many  other  interesting  articles  were  on  exhibition. 


75 


Years  ago  on  the  Green  was  erected  a  meeting  house,  which  was 
also  represented  last  evening,  the  original  lock  and  key,  which  the 
sexton  had  turned  many  times,  being  on  exhibition.  There  was  also 
a  tithing  pole  used  to  keep  the  congregation  awake,  when  Rev.  John 
White  was  pastor  of  the  church  from  1700  to  1738. 

The  Babson  house  is  an  exhibition  in  itself  with  its  antique 
furnishings,  almost  every  article  indicating  extreme  age.  Among  them 
being  a  tall  clock  with  trimmings  of  brass  which  has  stood  in  its 
present  position  for  over  a  hundred  years.  It  is  a  perfect  time  keeper. 

In  the  attic  are  pens  which  were  formerly  used  to  lock  slaves  in 
at  night.  Several  of  whom  were  owned  in  the  early  history  of  the 
town. 

Cocoa  was  served  by  young  ladies  during  the  evening. 

DINNER  PARTY 
1896 

Tuesday,  Feb.  25,  marked  the  76th  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of 
Mr.  Gustavus  Babson,  and  was  made  the  occasion  of  a  family  dinner 
party,  at  his  residence  on  Washington  Street,  which  proved  a  most 
notable  gathering  and  greatly  enjoyed  by  all  who  participated. 

Among  those  present  were  Mr.  John  L.  Babson,  who  will  be  84 
years  of  age  on  March  31.  Mrs.  Caroline  Babson  in  her  77th  year; 
Mrs.  Eliza  G.  Ring  in  her  74th  year.  Mr.  J.  L.  Babson  has  been  in 
the  grocery  business  at  the  same  location  in  Riverdale,  since  1833. 
The  house  occupied  by  Mr.  Gustavus  Babson  has  been  in  the  Babson 
family  since  1779  and  was  built  previous  to  1750.  He  was  born  there 
and  had  always  resided  in  the  same  house. 

The  youngest  person  present  was  Margaret  Ailing,  a  grand¬ 
daughter  age  17  months. 

The  elderly  portion  of  the  gathering  were  happy  with  pleasant 
reminiscences  of  days  agone  in  Gloucester  town,  among  which  was 
the  town  meetings,  which  was  held  in  the  old  meeting  house,  lasting 
three  days,  it  taking  the  entire  first  day  to  choose  a  moderator.  The 
Treasurer  was  chosen  by  having  the  men  form  two  lines  outside  and 
be  counted,  one  line  reaching  nearly  to  Curtis’  greenhouse.  The  head¬ 
quarters  of  one  party  was  at  the  old  Ellery  house,  then  the  only  tavern 
in  town.  The  other  headquarters  was  the  Babson  House.  Liquor  flowed 


76 


plentifully  in  those  days.  The  old  training  days  were  also  lived  over, 
and  Uncle  John’s  desire  was  to  participate  once  more  in  one  of  these 
gala  occasions. 

There  was  a  large  attendance  and  dinner  was  served  at  2  o’clock. 
There  were  two  tables,  one  being  for  the  older  portion  of  the  party, 
and  the  other  for  the  younger  ones.  Amid  pleasant  conversation  the 
appetizing  viands  were  partaken  of,  and  proved  a  genuine  love  feast, 
which  will  be  long  remembered  by  the  participants. 

OTHER  FAMILY  GATHERINGS 

On  the  occasion  of  the  100th  anniversary  of  the  Babson  House 
coming  into  the  family,  observed  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Gustavus 
Babson  last  Thursday  evening  was  a  pleasant  affair.  Some  seventy 
persons  were  present  and  the  evening  was  passed  in  singing,  social 
converse  and  listening  to  reminiscences  connected  with  the  edifice, 
which  was  open  from  cellar  to  attic.  A  bountiful  collation  was  served 
which  received  particular  attention. 

The  house  was  erected  by  Col.  William  Allen  about  the  year  1740, 
and  was  sold  in  1765  to  Isaac  Smith.  John  Low,  Jr.  bought  it  of  him 
Dec.  18,  1779,  for  £8750  payable,  it  is  presumed,  in  Continental 
money,  as  its  probable  value  at  that  time  was  $3000.  Mr.  Smith 
exhibited  his  patriotic  spirit  by  inserting  in  the  deed,  the  fourth  year  of 
the  Independence  of  America.  From  John  Low,  Jr.,  it  came  down 
in  a  direct  line  to  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Babson  and  her  son,  Mr.  Gustavus 
Babson,  the  present  owner,  bought  out  the  other  heirs  in  1863. 

The  same  old  original  chimney  is  still  standing.  There  is  a  large 
crack  in  it,  visible  in  the  cellar,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  caused 
by  the  earthquake  of  1756.  The  pens  in  the  attic  also  still  remain,  and 
it  is  supposed  they  were  used  by  the  slaves,  as  it  is  known  from  one  of 
the  direct  descendants  of  Col.  Allen,  that  at  one  time  while  living  in 
this  house  he  was  the  owner  of  eight  slaves,  two  of  whom  were  named 
Hat  and  Victor.  As  far  as  is  known  the  house  has  been  occupied  by 
the  direct  descendants  of  John  Low,  Jr.,  since  1779.  It  is  well  built 
and  convenient.  The  parlor  is  finished  entirely  in  wood,  a  fine  example 
of  the  panelling  of  that  period,  and  in  one  corner  is  one  of  the  old 
beaufet  closets  with  the  rising  sun  emblem  over  the  top  of  the  door. 
The  front  chamber  on  Thursday  evening  was  lit  with  candles,  the  stove 
removed,  and  a  cheerful  fire  blazed  on  the  hearth,  which  with  its  fender 
and  andirons,  presented  an  old-time  appearance,  while  the  spinning 
wheel  held  position  in  the  front  entry. 


77 


BABSON  BARN  BURNED 
March,  1908 


Ten  cows,  two  horses  and  a  number  of  hens  were  consumed  in  a 
fire  which  burned  to  the  ground  the  large  barn  belonging  to  the  estate 
of  Gustavus  Babson,  and  close  to  the  Babson  homestead  on  Washington 
Street  nearly  opposite  the  Riverdale  Green  about  midnight  last  night. 

When  discovered  the  fire  had  great  headway  and  the  barn  and 
contents  were  practically  doomed.  It  is  the  general  opinion  that  the 
blaze  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary,  as  there  was  no  fire  kept  in  the 
building,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Butler  who  is  employed  at  the  Estate  had 
not  been  there  since  early  evening,  and  when  he  left  everything  was 
all  right  and  there  was  no  sign  of  fire. 

The  blaze  was  seen  by  several  about  the  same  time.  The  men  on 
the  night  freight  saw  it  as  they  came  toward  the  water  bridge  and 
reported  it  on  their  arrival  here.  Officer  Benjamin  Stanley  who  lives 
on  Cherry  Street  and  who  was  coming  down  to  take  the  12  o’clock 
car  to  go  to  the  police  station,  also  saw  it  almost  as  soon  as  he  came 
out  of  his  house. 

He  hurried  to  box  6l  and  rang  in  the  alarm  at  a  half  minute  of 
the  midnight  hour,  after  first  awakening  those  living  in  the  Babson 
homestead.  Turning  his  attention  to  the  burning  building  he  found  it 
impossible  to  save  the  cows  and  horses. 

The  alarm  brought  the  Dale  Avenue  chemical,  steamer  Bay  View 
No.  3,  hook  and  ladder  No.  1  and  the  Riverdale  hose  wagon  to  the 
scene  and  in  a  short  time  the  steamer  was  throwing  two  good  streams 
on  the  fire.  There  was  no  chance  to  save  the  building  or  contents, 
and  all  that  could  be  done  was  to  play  on  it  and  keep  the  fire  down  as 
much  as  possible. 

There  was  a  large  amount  of  hay  in  the  barn,  and  this  with  the 
dryness  of  everything  made  a  great  blaze,  the  illumination  being  seen 
from  all  over  the  city. 

By  1:15  o’clock  the  barn  was  practically  flat,  but  a  few  timbers 
remained  standing.  During  the  fire,  Mrs.  Annie  P.  Ailing  and  Miss 
Susan  Babson,  who  reside  in  the  Babson  homestead,  supplied  the 
firemen  with  plenty  of  fragrant  hot  coffee  which  was  much  appreciated. 

It  seems  to  be  the  general  opinion  that  the  fire  was  the  work  of 
an  incendiary.  It  is  known  that  a  man  was  seen  coming  from  the 
direction  of  the  barn  about  11:30  o’clock  and  that  his  manner  of  walk 
and  muttering  indicated  that  he  had  been  drinking. 


78 


OBITUARY  NOTICE 

of  John  L.  Babson 


The  late  John  L.  Babson,  born  Mar.  31,  1812,  well  known  as  the 
Riverdale  grocer  and  variety  store  keeper,  started  business  in  1833  and 
continued  it  until  nearly  the  time  of  his  decease,  Jan.,  1898,  a  period 
of  65  years.  The  selling  of  clam  bait  when  it  was  more  extensively 
used  in  the  fisheries  was  a  large  branch  of  Mr.  Babson’s  business  for 
many  years  and  gave  employment  in  the  digging  of  clams  along  the 
Annisquam  and  little  rivers  to  a  large  number  of  men  who  secured  a 
comfortable  living  in  its  pursuit,  which  together  with  summer  macker- 
eling  laid  the  foundation  of  the  most  desirable  section  of  our  city. 

During  almost  the  entire  65  years  of  his  active  business  career, 
Mr.  Babson  got  along  without  the  assistance  of  a  clerk,  buying  and 
selling  and  putting  up  his  goods  and  keeping  the  accounts  himself. 

His  sales  of  clam  bait  amounted  to  between  22,000  and  23,000 
barrels,  and  as  he  made  all  these  barrels  himself  in  a  part  of  his  build¬ 
ing  used  as  a  cooperage  and  packing  establishment,  it  must  be  admitted 
that  he  was  a  remarkable  industrious  individual.  His  customers 
extended  all  the  way  from  Chatham,  Mass.,  to  Portland,  Maine,  and 
although  he  never  received  pay  for  a  single  barrel  of  bait  in  advance, 
always  giving  the  parties  credit,  he  never  lost  the  value  of  but  one 
barrel  and  that  was  charged  to  a  neighbor  and  never  paid  for.  This 
speaks  volumes  for  the  credit  of  those  engaged  in  the  New  England 
fisheries. 

I  well  remember  the  old  gentleman  as  his  store  was  a  convenient 
stopping  place  for  the  Annisquam  river  campers,  or  where  they  could 
wait  for  the  Annisquam  coach,  and  they  were  pretty  good  patrons  of 
the  establishment.  He  possessed  that  calm  deliberate  nature  which 
showed  strength  of  mind  and  purpose,  was  eminently  sociable  and  a 
very  agreeable  conversationalist.  He  was  an  ardent  Republican  in 
politics  and  well  versed  in  the  topics  of  the  day,  a  constant  reader  of 
the  Boston  Advertiser  and  the  Cape  Ann  Advertiser f  thereby  keeping 
in  touch  with  what  was  going  on  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

He  was  also  a  thorough  cold  water  man  and  used  to  bring  buckets 
of  nature's  beverage  every  morning  and  noon  time  from  his  dwelling 
a  short  distance  away,  and  this  water  was  not  only  for  his  own  use, 
but  for  all  who  wished  it.  Many  a  thirsty  individual  availed  themselves 
of  this  privilege. 


79 


WITCH  EPISODE 


The  strange  story  told  by  Ebenezer  Babson,  who  heard  the  noise 
of  running  feet  outside  his  house  night  after  night,  is  all  that  survives 
of  Gloucester’s  part  in  the  fierce  frenzy  of  superstition  that  burned 
for  a  time  in  the  New  England  colonies.  Coming  home  late  one 
evening,  Babson  saw  two  men  leave  his  house  and  go  into  the  corn 
and  heard  them  saying,  "The  man  of  the  house  is  come  now,  else  we 
might  have  taken  the  house.” 

With  praiseworthy  discretion,  good  Ebenezer  took  his  family  and 
departed  to  the  "garrison,”  and  the  two  mysterious  men,  it  is  said, 
followed  them  thither  and  were  seen  hanging  around  for  several  nights 
afterward. 

"One  day  Babson  saw  two  men  who  looked  like  Frenchmen,  and 
at  another  time,  six  men  were  seen  near  the  garrison;  whereupon 
several  went  in  pursuit.  Babson  overtook  two,  and  tried  to  shoot  at 
them,  but  his  gun  missed  fire.  Soon  after,  he  saw  three  men  together, 
one  of  whom  had  on  a  white  waistcoat.  He  fired,  and  they  all  fell; 
but,  as  soon  as  he  came  close  to  them,  they  all  rose  up,  and  ran  away; 
one  of  them  discharging  a  gun  as  he  went.  One  of  these  strange 
beings  was  at  last  surrounded  by  his  pursuers,  and  all  means  of 
escape  were  cut  off.  He  approached  Babson,  who  shot  at  him  as  he 
was  getting  over  the  fence,  and  saw  him  fall  from  it  to  the  ground; 
but  when  Babson  came  to  the  spot  where  he  fell,  the  man  could  not 
be  found.  Afterwards  several  were  seen  lurking  about  the  garrison, 
and  great  discoursing  in  an  unknown  tongue  was  heard  in  a  swamp 
near.  After  this,  men  were  seen,  who  were  supposed  to  be  French  and 
Indians.  Babson  was  fired  upon  on  his  way  back  to  the  Harbor  to 
carry  news ;  and  finally,  after  enduring  these  disturbances  of  the  peace 
of  the  town  for  a  fortnight,  the  people  sent  abroad  for  help.  July 
18,  sixty  men  arrived  from  Ipswich  to  assist  in  the  protection  of  the 
town,  and  the  deliverance  of  it  from  these  mysterious  invaders;  but  it 
does  not  appear  that  any  of  the  latter  were  taken;  which  can  scarcely 
be  a  matter  of  surprise,  considering  that  they  were  too  ethereal  to  leave 
a  footprint  upon  the  soft  and  miry  places  over  which  they  were 
pursued.” 


80 


ANDREW  ROBINSON 

THE  FIRST  SCHOONER 

On  Eastern  Point  Andrew  Robinson,  the  man  who  built  the  first 
schooner,  acquired  a  piece  of  land  the  year  he  became  of  age  and  there 
he  built  the  house  in  which  he  lived  whenever  he  was  in  Gloucester 
during  the  rest  of  his  unusually  adventurous  life.  While  still  a  boy  he 
gained  note  as  a  woodsman  and  hunter.  He  was  an  able  shipwright. 
He  owned  fishing  vessels  and  went  himself  to  the  Banks.  He  led  one 
expedition  against  the  French.  He  attempted  to  organize  a  second,  but 
failed  because  it  made  his  fellow  citizens  "quake  to  think  of  turning 
out  of  their  warm  beds  and  from  good  fires,  and  be  thrust  into  a  naked 
vessel,  where  they  must  lie  on  the  cold,  hard  ballast,  instead  of  beds, 
and  without  fire,  excepting  some  few  who  might  crowd  into  the  cabin”. 
Time  and  again  he  matched  his  wits  and  courage  against  the  Indian 
allies  of  the  French. 

The  story  of  the  first  schooner  is  the  best  known  of  all  incidents 
in  the  life  of  Andrew  Robinson,  and  perhaps  even  the  best  known  of  all 
incidents  in  the  history  of  Gloucester.  He  built  the  vessel,  and  while 
she  was  on  the  stocks,  he  masted  and  rigged  her  after  the  now  familiar 
plan  of  schooners.  The  new  sail-plan  attracted  much  attention  but 
w’as  nameless  until  the  launching.  As  the  vessel  slid  into  the  water, 
some  one  of  the  spectators  —  his  name  is  lost,  although  his  contribution 
to  the  language  is  known  wherever  English  is  spoken  —  called  in 
admiration,  "Oh,  how  she  scoons!” 

To  which  Robinson,  prompt  to  seize  the  new  name,  replied,  "A 
scooner  let  her  be!” 

This  old-time  Eastern-Pointer’s  Indian  adventures  reveal  a  side 
of  seafaring  life  in  colonial  days  that  was  "hair-raising”  in  an  unusually 
exact  sense.  In  1708  he  got  a  commission  from  the  governor  and 
armed  a  vessel  and  sailed  from  Gloucester  for  the  double  purpose  of 
catching  fish  and  hunting  Indians.  Of  the  result  of  his  fishing  there  is 
no  record;  but  he  bagged  two  Indians,  and  taking  their  scalps  to 
Boston,  he  applied  for  the  bounty  of  forty  pounds  a  scalp  that  the 
General  Court  had  offered  in  1703.  The  Colonial  Government  for 
some  reason  refused  him  the  bounty,  but  it  did  give  him  a  special 
reward  of  twenty  pounds  for  his  "good  service.”  Nor  did  the  incident 
mark  the  end  of  his  career  as  an  Indian  fighter,  for  thirteen  years  later, 
when  the  Indians  seized  several  fishing  vessels,  Captain  Robinson 
again  took  to  the  warpath  and  scored  six  dead  Indians  out  of  the  seven 
in  a  canoe  that  he  over-hauled;  and  in  1723,  he  commanded  one  of 


81 


the  two  sloops  that  pursued  a  band  of  Indians  the  French  had  sent 
against  Canso  to  take  a  small  fleet  of  Massachusetts  vessels,  and  again 
he  won  a  notable  victory. 

One  of  the  narrowest  escapes  in  the  life  of  this  adventurous  son 
of  Gloucester  occurred  when  a  band  of  Indians  surprised  and  captured 
Captain  Robinson  and  his  crew  of  two  men,  when  his  sloop  was  lying 
in  an  eastern  harbor.  They  killed  Robinson’s  men  and  carried  off 
the  captain  to  make  a  holiday  of  butchering  him;  but  that  night  they 
got  drunk  and  Robinson,  watching  his  chance,  pretended  to  sleep  until 
his  half-drunken  guard  was  the  only  Indian  left  awake;  then  he  sprang 
up,  killed  the  guard,  and  departed  to  his  sloop,  which  was  three  miles 
away.  Getting  safely  on  board,  he  made  haste  to  raise  the  sail  and  be 
off,  but  at  daybreak  the  Indians  were  after  him  again  and  the  wind 
was  so  light  they  overhauled  him  in  their  canoes. 

The  triumphant  career  of  Andrew  Robinson  would  have  ended 
there  and  then,  had  he  not  called  to  mind  a  trick  that  has  more  than 
once  saved  the  day  for  American  seamen  when  attacked  by  naked 
savages.  On  board  the  sloop  he  had  "a  large  quantity  of  scupper 
nails,  well  known  for  their  peculiar  shape;  being  short  and  having  a 
sharp  point,  and  a  large  flat  head,  with  a  sharp  edge,”  these  he  sowed 
broadcast  on  the  deck,  and  the  Indians,  swarming  on  board  with  hideous 
yells,  got  their  feet  so  full  of  nails  that  they  could  not  stand,  and 
floundered  about  until  the  resourceful  skipper,  his  own  feet  protected 
by  stout  sole  leather,  knocked  them  on  the  head  and  threw  them 
overboard.  This  so  appalled  their  comrades  in  the  canoes  that  they 
paddled  away  as  if  the  devil  were  after  them  and  spread  to  the  farthest 
campfires  of  the  Abenakis  their  conviction  that  the  Gloucester  captain 
had  a  charmed  life  and  a  more  than  human  talent  for  killing  Indians. 


ELLERY  HOUSE  FIRST  USED  AS  A  PARSONAGE,  AND 

THEN  AS  A  TAVERN 

The  tavern  of  most  lasting  interest,  is  the  one  James  Stevens  and 
William  Ellery  kept  in  a  house  that  John  White,  for  fifty-eight  years 
minister  of  the  first  parish,  built  in  the  first  year  of  the  century, 
under  the  Green  on  which  the  old  first  parish  meetinghouse  stood. 
Here  Stevens  kept  tavern  until  1740,  when  he  sold  the  house  to  Captain 
Ellery,  who  maintained  the  tavern  as  of  old.  The  house,  which  is 
known  as  "The  Old  Ellery  House”  has  kept  Captain  Ellery’s  name 
alive  to  this  day,  for  it  is  still  standing  under  the  Green  on  the  left- 
hand  side  of  Washington  Street  as  you  go  toward  Riverdale. 


82 


The  old  Ellery  house  is  a  monument  to  brave,  genial  days,  for  as 
years  passed,  the  town  fathers  grew  ambitious.  When  the  officers  of 
the  town  for  1740  were  sworn  in,  the  bill  for  "the  selectmen  and 
Licker  at  the  house  of  Mr.  James  Stevens"  was  £3.18s2d.,  and  in  1744, 
when  the  selectmen  seem  to  have  divided  their  patronage,  the  bills 
for  entertaining  them  at  two  taverns  "was  nearly  thirty  pounds,  old 
tenor."  It  is  true  the  currency  was  depreciating  and  that  the  sum  was 
nowhere  near  so  much  as  it  appears;  but  their  ambition,  like  Caesar’s 
led  them  into  disaster,  for  at  the  town  meeting  in  1745,  the  town 
voted  to  pay  them  a  salary  of  five  pounds  a  year,  old  tenor,  and  let  them 
"find  themselves." 

I  am  unable  to  learn  what  led  the  town  to  relent.  Perhaps  the 
pathos  of  the  selectmen’s  paying  for  their  own  "licker"  touched  the 
hardest  hearts.  But  relent  the  town  did,  and  resumed  footing  the  bills, 
and  in  1749,  at  Captain  Ellery’s  tavern,  the  same  old  Ellery  house  that 
is  standing  today  under  the  Green,  the  selectmen  celebrated  their 
return  to  grace  by  running  up  a  bill  of  seventy-eight  pounds,  old 
tenor ! 

In  the  George  Dennison  house  on  Curve  Street,  where  William 
Babson  lived  a  century  and  a  half  ago,  there  used  to  be  a  cage  in  the 
kitchen,  in  wffiich  at  times  they  confined  Babson’s  insane  daughter. 
How  strangely  are  tragedy  and  comedy  mingled  in  the  tales  of  old 
houses!  The  other  story  of  the  house,  that  has  survived,  concerns  a 
wedding  when  candles  stood  in  every  window,  from  cellar  to  garret, 
and  the  guests  came  "down  the  river  in  gondolas." 


83 


ADDENDA  REGARDING  NAME 


B ARSON  OR  RABSON? 

ISABEL  BABSON  landed  in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  during  the  17th 
Century.  Before  1640,  she  went  to  Gloucester  and  settled  on  a  plot 
of  land  near  what  is  now  Porter  Street,  —  namely  at  69  Main  Street. 
There  was  no  Rogers  Street  at  that  time,  as  the  sandy  beach  backed  up 
at  the  rear  of  what  is  now  Main  Street.  Her  property  ran  from  the 
sandy  beach  westerly  across  what  is  now  Main  Street,  taking  in  the 
property  now  occupied  by  the  Sargent-Murray-Gilman  House;  then 
across  what  is  now  Middle  Street,  including  the  Babson  property  now 
owned  by  the  Open  Church  Foundation;  and  continuing  westward 
across  what  is  now  Porter  Street  to  the  "wilderness.”  This  bordered 
the  original  settlement  and  the  terminus  of  her  land  was  used  as  a 
burying  lot. 

Isabel  Babson,  a  widow,  with  her  son  James,  was  very  enter¬ 
prising  and  a  leader  in  the  Community.  Her  home  became  a  meeting 
place  for  those  engaged  in  the  fishing  industry  and  where  "shares”  of 
vessels  and  fishing  trips  were  registered  and  exchanged,  and  news  as 
to  the  small  fishing  industry  was  filed.  In  fact,  she  started  the  first 
statistical  clearing  center  in  America,  —  at  least  on  the  fishing  industry. 
All  Babsons  (see  Fortune  Magazine  for  October  1959)  now  operating 
Investment  Advisory  Services  may  claim  direct  descendance  from  Isabel 
Babson  who  operated  before  1640  at  69  Main  Street,  Gloucester. 

Isabel  and  James  brought  the  name  Babson  to  this  country  and 
despite  temporary  misspelling  —  Bapson,  Bapsene,  Bapsen  and 
Babston  —  it  survives  today ;  Batson  is  the  name  of  a  quite  different 
family.  The  probable  derivation  of  the  name  is  simple;  it  is  a 
metronym  meaning  the  son  of  Barbara,  but  it  may  have  reached  its 
present  form  by  adding-son  to  Babb  or  Babbe.  Or  it  may  have  been 
an  accepted  misspelling  of  such  a  name  as  Rabson. 

To  illustrate  this  last  possibility,  John  Rabson  married  a  Jane 
Fowle  in  England  in  1631;  his  name  is  reported  in  the  New  England 
Historical  and  Genealogical  Register  as  John  Babson,  but  a  subse- 


84 


quent  inspection  of  the  original  wills  and  tax  lists  reveal  it  to  have 
been  Rabson  beyond  any  doubt.  The  hard  fact  is  that  the  name 
Babson  has  been  found  recorded  only  as  it  has  applied  to  the  present 
family  in  this  country  and,  failing  some  successful  future  research, 
all  else  is  speculation.  In  the  meantime  we  must  assume  that  the 
family  name  is  Rabson,  of  which  there  are  many  in  England. 

FIVE  YEAR  FAMILY  GATHERINGS 
AUGUST  23,  1958 

310  years  ago  the  first  factory  in  New  England  was  constructed 
half  way  between  Gloucester  and  Rockport  on  Route  27  in  a  little 
stone  building  which  is  now  owned  by  the  city  of  Gloucester  and 
opened  as  a  museum.  The  builder  of  this  little  factory  was  James 
Babson  and  his  mother,  Isabel  Babson.  These  were  the  first  Babsons 
to  arrive  in  America.  They  landed  in  Salem  about  ten  years  previous 
after  a  four  week’s  trip  in  a  sailing  vessel  from  London. 

Every  five  years  the  Babsons  come  from  all  parts  of  the  country 
to  visit  this  shrine.  This  year  they  are  meeting  today.  This  little 
factory  was  fully  integrated.  They  had  a  pond  and  water  power  about 
a  mile  north  which  sawed  slabs.  These  were  soaked  in  a  pond  close 
by  and  made  into  barrels.  These  barrels  were  taken  by  ox  team  to  a 
trail  (now  known  as  Witham  Street)  to  the  beach  at  Brier  Neck. 
There  they  were  filled  with  dried  cod  fish  and  exported.  This  con¬ 
tinued  for  about  one  hundred  years.  After  this  a  big  stone  barn  was 
erected  and  the  house  was  occupied  by  the  family  that  drove  the  stage 
coaches  from  Rockport  to  Salem  before  there  was  any  railroad.  Later 
it  was  occupied  by  the  Nugent  family  from  whom  Roger  W.  Babson 
purchased  it  and  gave  it  to  the  City  of  Gloucester  as  a  museum.  It 
contains  the  most  ancient  tools  for  making  barrels  and  raising  small 
crops.  These  tools  including  shovels,  plates  and  cooking  utensils 
were  made  of  wood  as  iron  and  crockery  was  then  very  scarce. 

About  one  hundred  persons  from  all  parts  of  the  country  are 
attending.  The  entertainment  committee  consists  of  Mrs.  W.  Warren 
Babson  of  Gloucester,  Mr.  Thomas  E.  Babson  of  Melrose,  Mr.  Stanley 
Babson  of  Orange,  New  Jersey,  Mr.  Arthur  C.  Babson  of  Wellesley, 


85 


Massachusetts  and  George  J.  Babson  of  Leesburg,  Virginia  who  is 
President  of  the  Association.  The  gathering  met  at  10:30  A.M.;  there 
was  a  luncheon  served  at  noon  after  which  the  following  speakers 
were  introduced: 

Origin  of  Name  And  Reports  On  Other  Research  Work, 

George  J.  Babson 

Early  History  of  Gloucester,  Thomas  E.  Babson 
Reports  On  The  Younger  Generation,  Stanley  E.  Babson. 

Warren  H.  Duley  is  curator  and  the  building  is  open  freely  to 
the  public  each  afternoon  (including  Labor  Day),  during  July  and 
August,  except  Mondays. 

WHERE  AND  WHEN  WAS  JAMES  BABSON  (1)  BORN? 

John  James  Babson,  who  was  a  careful  genealogist,  says  in  his 
"History  of  the  Town  of  Gloucester"  (I860): 

"Isabel  Babson,  widow  and  midwife,  was  of  Salem  in  1637,  but 
came  early  to  Gloucester,  and  had  several  grants  of  land.  She  also 
bought  of  Mr.  Milward  two  acres  that  was  Ashley’s  lot;  a  portion 
of  which,  situated  at  what  is  now  75  and  77  Front  Street,  continued  in 
the  family  about  a  century  and  a  half.  She  died  April  6,  1661,  aged 
about  eighty-four;  leaving  an  estate  inventoried  at  $27.60.  Her  son 
fames  came  hither  with  his  mother,  and  settled  near  Little  Good 
Harbor.  He  was  a  cooper  by  trade;  but  he  cultivated  his  land,  and 
left  at  his  death  a  small  farm,  which  went  into  the  possesion  of  Thomas 
Witham,  who  married  his  daughter.  He  died  December  21,  1683.  His 
wife,  Elinor  Hill,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1647,  died  March  14, 
1714,  aged  eighty -three.” 

Same  author,  in  his  "Notes  and  Additions  to  the  History  of 
Gloucester"  (1876)  says: 

"James  Babson.  —  This  settler  and  his  mother  Isabel  appear  to 
have  been  the  sole  emigrants  to  New  England  of  this  name;  and  the 
number  bearing  it  in  the  mother  country  must  have  been  very  small 
as  I  infer  as  a  result  of  an  examination  last  summer,  at  the  Registrar 
General’s  Office  in  London,  of  the  records  of  births,  deaths  and 


86 


marriages  in  England  and  Wales  for  the  six  preceding  years,  which 
revealed  the  fact  that  the  name  did  not  appear  during  that  period  .  .  . 
The  grant  to  her  son  James  is  in  these  words.  'December  23,  1638, 
given  to  James  Babson  twelve  acres  of  fresh  meadow  lying  above  the 
mill,  also  twenty  acres  of  upland  lying  by  the  side  of  it.  .  .  James 
Babson  made  his  will  December  4,  1683  and  died  December  21,  same 


year.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  is  as  follows:  — 

House  and  upland  and  marsh,  fresh  and  salt  £  52.10 

And  other  pieces  of  land  in  the  harbor  10.00 

For  cattle,  great  and  small  30.16 

One  mare  1.00 

For  swine  great  and  small  2.10 

For  beds  and  bedding  thereunto  belonging  6.00 

For  pots,  kettle  and  frying-pan  1.00 

For  pewter  .10 

For  guns  and  sword  and  bullets  and  bullet  mould  2.00 

For  barrels,  chest  and  other  lumber  .10 

For  one  cart  and  sled  and  plough  and  tackling  thereunto 

belonging,  and  other  husbandry  tools  3.10 

For  wearing  clothes  1.10 


£111.16 

Essex  Court  Records  2 : 38 

"Isabell  Babson,  midwife,  aged  about  80  years,  deposed  .  .  . 
Sworn  to  March  30,  1657.” 

Essex  County  Probate  1:343 

Administration  on  the  estate  of  Isabell  Babson,  widow,  granted 
June  25,  l66l,  to  her  son,  James  Babson.  Inventory  taken  April  9,  l66l 
and  sworn  to  in  court  by  James  Babson. 

Essex  Court  Records  3*40 

James  Babson  deposed  May  5,  1663  that  he  was  30  years  of  age 
(Babson  Genealogy). 

I  was  curious  to  check  the  latter  because  if  James  was  30  in 
1663  he  was  born  when  his  mother  was  between  53  and  56  years 
old  (Chamberlain  says  she  died  at  81,  J.  J.  Babson  says  "about  84”  — 
in  l66l)  and  married  at  the  age  of  14  or  15  a  girl  then  17  years  old. 


87 


The  original  written  court  record  immediately  above  cited  begins 
"James  Babson,  aged  30  years,  testified  ...”  The  testimony  had 
nothing  to  do  with  his  age,  but  concerned  a  dispute  between  neighbors 
Peter  Duncan  and  Thomas  Very. 

The  words  "aged  30  years”  are  very  clear  in  the  record.  His  age 
at  death  is  not  given,  but  the  ages  of  his  mother  and  his  wife  at  their 
deaths  are  a  matter  of  record.  I  believe  it  is  logical  to  conclude  that 
this  one  court  record  of  his  age  in  1663  is  in  error,  and  that  it  could 
have  been  intended  to  read  forty.  Bear  in  mind  the  record  of  his 
marriage  in  1647  is  very  clear  and  that  in  1663  he  had  been  married 
for  16  years.  He  had  a  son  James  born  in  1648  who  would  have 
been  15  in  1663. 

In  the  absence  of  any  other  evidence  beside  this  court  record, 
that  James  was  30  in  1663,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  this  does  not 
logically  fit  in  with  the  known  ages  of  his  wife  and  his  mother,  I 
think  we  may  properly  dismiss  theories  (l)  that  he  married  at  an 
abnormally  tender  age,  and  (2)  that  he  was  adopted  rather  than  a 
natural  son  of  Isabel. 

Let  us  assume  that  James  was  40  rather  than  30  in  1663.  He 
would  have  been  born  in  1623,  when  Isabel  was  between  43  and  46. 
He  would  have  been  14  when  he  came  with  Isabel  to  Salem;  his  age 
at  marriage  in  1647  would  have  been  23  or  24  (his  wife  was  then  17) . 
His  age  at  death  would  have  been  60.  He  outlived  his  mother  by 
only  22  years;  his  wife  outlived  him  by  31  years.  Since  both  women 
lived  to  be  over  80,  and  since  "sickness  and  weakness”  (old  age  is  not 
mentioned)  caused  him  to  make  his  will  a  few  days  before  he  died, 
we  can  assume  he  was  not  unusually  old  at  death,  —  and  60  would 
not  be  unusually  old. 

It  is  admittedly  odd  that  a  wrong  age  should  be  entered  in  this 
court  record  and  be  signed.  But  it  is  more  logical  to  assume  an  error 
here  than  to  try  to  build  up  a  fabric  of  suppositions  which  all  the  other 
evidence  seems  to  make  absurd. 

Of  course  this  does  not  finally  rule  out  some  other  explanation 
but  so  far  no  additional  facts  have  been  uncovered  to  untangle  the 
mystery  of  this  one  court  record  of  James’  age. 

T.  E.  BABSON 


88 


FAMILY  OF  OSMAN  AND  MARCIA  LEE  (Duley)  BABSON 


OSMAN  EVERETT  BABSON,  born  in  Gloucester,  Mass.,  March 
11,  1867.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  dairyman.  He  married  Florence 
Wonson,  the  daughter  of  Roger  W.  and  Lucy  N.  Wonson  of  Glouces¬ 
ter,  on  January  12,  1892.  He  died  suddenly  February  1,  1893,  in 
Gloucester.  She  was  born  October  15,  1867,  in  Gloucester  and  died 
there  November  22,  1931.  They  had  a  daughter:  —  Alice  Everett 
Babson,  born  Gloucester  March  15,  1893.  A  former  Head  of 
Department,  Women,  High  School  of  Practical  Arts,  Boston,  she  was 
a  graduate  of  Simmons  College.  Now  retired,  she  lives  at  the 
parental  homestead  'Banner  Hill”  in  East  Gloucester. 

ALBERT  DULEY  BABSON,  born  in  Gloucester,  Mass.,  Novem¬ 
ber  7,  1870.  Married  Annie  Lockwood  Rich,  daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Mary  Adelia  (Procter)  Rich  of  Gloucester,  October  3,  1894.  He  was 
a  Graduate  of  Tufts  College  1890,  and  received  an  M.M.A.  Degree 
in  1891.  He  was  a  Sales  Manager  for  the  General  Electric  Company 
in  New  York  City.  He  died  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  April  21,  1941.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Gloucester  October  13,  1870,  and  died  in  Arlington, 
N.  J.,  May  16,  1918.  They  had  three  children:  — Thomas  Everett, 
Elizabeth  and  Winifred 

Thomas  Everett  Babson,  born  August  2,  1895,  in  Balti¬ 
more,  Maryland.  Married  Catherine  Eleanor  Caithness,  daughter  of 
Harry  Barclay  and  Lillias  (Grant)  Caithness  of  Arlington,  N.  J.,  on 
September  10,  1921.  A  graduate  of  Princeton  University  in  1918,  he 
is  an  Investment  Counsellor  in  Boston.  She  was  born  in  Arlington, 
N.  J.,  February  5,  1897.  They  reside  in  Melrose,  Mass.,  with  a  summer 
residence  in  West  Gloucester.  They  have  three  children: — Marcia 
Lee,  Jean  Lillias,  and  Nancy  Adams. 

Marcia  Lee  Babson,  born  August  11,  1922,  Newark,  N.  J.  Married 
Jack  Melvin  Meyer,  son  of  Edward  J.  R.  and  Lulu  (French) 
Meyer  of  Clintonville,  Wisconsin,  on  February  15,  1945,  at 
West  Orange,  N.  J.  She  attended  the  New  Jersey  College  for 
Women,  Phoenix  Art  Institute  in  New  York  City,  and  the  Uni¬ 
versity  of  Wisconsin.  She  is  a  Commercial  Artist.  He  was 
born  in  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin  October  23,  1922.  He  is  a  graduate 


89 


of  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  and  is  a  Captain  in  the  U.  S. 
Army  Reserves.  They  reside  in  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin,  and  have 
three  children:  —  John  James,  Jean  Marie,  and  James  Martin. 

Jean  Lillias  Babson,  born  August  28,  1925,  in  Newark,  N.  J. 

Married  Malcolm  Henry  Allen,  son  of  Malcolm  Henry  and 
Dora  (Oberg)  Allen  of  Melrose,  Mass.,  on  June  27,  1953,  at 
Gloucester,  Mass.  A  graduate  of  Boston  Bouve  School  of  Physi¬ 
cal  Education,  of  Tufts  College,  in  1947,  she  is  a  former  head 
of  Physical  Education  for  Girls  at  Melrose,  Mass.,  High  School. 

He  was  born  in  Portland,  Maine,  July  13,  1926.  He  is  an 
Engineer,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University,  1947.  They 
reside  in  Melrose,  Mass.  They  have  two  children:  —  Laurie 
Caithness,  and  Thomas  Babson. 

Nancy  Adams  Babson,  born  November  30,  1932,  in  West  Orange, 

N.  J.  A  graduate  of  Westbrook  Junior  College  in  1952,  she  is 
a  Commercial  Artist  and  resides  with  her  parents  in  Melrose, 
Mass. 

Elizabeth  Babson,  born  June  11,  1898,  in  Baltimore,  Mary¬ 
land.  Married  Carl  Edwin  Bosch,  son  of  John  George  (Jr.,)  and  Ida 
Barbara  (Sauckbauer)  Bosch,  in  Arlington,  N.  J.,  on  April  18,  1925. 
She  is  a  Graduate  of  Bradford  Academy  in  1918.  He  was  born  in 
West  Burlington,  Iowa,  December  27,  1897,  and  is  a  graduate  of 
the  University  of  Iowa  in  1920.  He  is  an  engineer.  They  reside  in 
West  Hartford,  Connecticut.  They  have  three  children:  —  Robert 
Edwin,  Barbara  Anne,  and  John  Albert 

Robert  Edwin  Bosch,  born  February  22,  1926  (a  twin),  in  Buffalo, 

New  York.  Married  Jean  Frances  Carter,  daughter  of  Earle 
Eugene  and  Marguerite  (Belden)  Carter,  in  Springfield,  Mass., 

July  28,  1951.  He  is  an  Engineer,  and  a  graduate  of  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute  in  1951.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Russell  Sage 
in  1949.  They  reside  in  Melrose,  Mass.  They  have  three 
children:  —  Eric  Edwin,  Jeffrey  Carter,  and  Steven  Earl. 

Barbara  Ann  Bosch,  born  February  22,  1926  (a  twin),  in  Buffalo, 

New  York.  Married  February  7,  1948,  Charles  Stewart  Ross, 
son  of  Charles  Carlisle  and  Anne  (Stewart)  Ross.  She  is  a 
graduate  of  Stephens  Junior  College,  Columbia,  Missouri,  in  1946. 

He  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  March  5,  1924,  and  is  a  gradu¬ 
ate  of  Temple  University,  with  a  Master’s  Degree  from  New  York 
University.  They  reside  in  Mamaroneck,  New  York.  They  have 


90 


three  children:  —  Susan  Babson,  Ellen  Stewart,  and  Donald 
Carlisle. 

John  Albert  Bosch,  born  March  14,  1929,  in  Buffalo,  New  York. 
Married  Marna  Eline  Kuntsmann,  daughter  of  Martin  Theodore 
and  Paule  (Stoeppelwerth)  Kuntsmann,  in  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana, 
on  July  10,  1954.  He  is  an  Engineer,  and  a  graduate  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania  State  University  in  1951.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Oberlin 
College  in  1952.  They  have  three  children:  —  Corinne  Ida, 

Carl  Martin,  and  Kenneth  Paul 

Winifred  Babson,  born  November  6,  1899,  in  Dorchester, 
Mass.  Married  Cecil  Stanley  Pleninger,  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Kate 
(Hefford)  Pleninger  of  Boston,  on  September  19,  1925,  in  Newark, 
N.  J.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Bradford  Academy  in  1920,  and  is  a 
Commercial  Artist.  He  was  born  in  Brighton,  England,  July  29, 
1899.  They  reside  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  where  he  manages  a 
brokerage  office.  They  have  three  children:  —  Stanley  Babson,  Ann 
Phyllis,  and  Kate  Winifred. 

Stanley  Babson  Pleninger,  born  September  6,  1926,  in  Newark,  N.  J. 
Married  Carol  Virginia  Cunningham,  daughter  of  Dr.  Eric  Alton 
and  Clarita  (Richard)  Cunningham,  in  Louisiana,  Missouri, 
April  27,  1956.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Princeton  University  in 
1950.  She  was  born  in  Missouri,  and  is  a  graduate  of  Vassar 
College  in  1954.  They  have  one  child:  —  Locke  Cunningham. 

Ann  Phyllis  Pleninger,  born  April  11,  1930,  in  Kearny,  N.  J. 
Married  Donald  Willett  Everett,  son  of  C.  Ray  and  Mildred 
(Willett)  Everett  of  Spruce  Head,  Maine,  in  New  York  on 
February  28,  1953.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Vassar  College  in  1952. 

He  was  born  in  Kingston,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  United 
States  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis  in  1948,  and  Wharton 
School  of  Finance  in  1951.  They  reside  in  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

They  have  two  children:  —  Wynne  and  James  Willett. 

Kate  Winifred  Pleninger,  born  June  16,  1937,  in  Beacon,  N.  Y. 
Married  William  Gibson  Carey,  son  of  William  Gibson  and 
Eleanor  (Towne)  Carey  of  Greenwich,  Conn.,  on  December  28, 
1957,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  She  attended  Skidmore  College 
and  Columbia  University.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
and  is  a  graduate  of  Union  College  in  1956.  They  reside  in 
Metuchen,  N.  J, 


91 


ELMER  WARREN  BABSON,  born  December  31,  1874  in 
Gloucester,  Mass.  Married  Emma  Gustafva  Leveau,  daughter  of 
Carl  Rheinhardt  and  Anna  Marie  (Bolin)  Leveau,  and  niece  of 
Captain  William  Thompson  of  Gloucester,  on  October  29,  1903,  in 
Gloucester.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  School  of  Veterinarian,  and  was 
a  former  Mayor  of  Gloucester  (1938).  He  died  in  Gloucester  on 
January  21,  1944.  She  was  born  in  Viken,  Sweden,  December  31, 
1873.  A  graduate  of  Sargent  School  of  Physical  Education,  in  Boston, 
she  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  Syracuse,  New  York.  She  died 
in  Gloucester  on  December  31,  1954.  They  had  three  children:  — 
William  Warren,  Osman,  and  David  Leveau. 

William  Warren  Babson,  born  April  18,  1905,  in  Gloucester,  Mass. 
Married  Anne  Odeneal  Wilbon,  daughter  of  David  T.  and  Edith 
(Odeneal)  Wilbon,  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  on  December  11, 
1937.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  and  of  the  Harvard 
Medical  School  in  1930.  He  is  the  Head  Surgeon  at  the  Addison 
Gilbert  Hospital  of  Gloucester,  Mass.  She  was  born  November 
28,  1911.  They  have  four  children:  —  William  Warren,  Jr., 

(a  twin),  Anne  Odeneal  (a  twin),  David  Elmer,  and  Thomas 
Wilbon. 

Osman  Babson  II,  born  July  2,  1908,  at  Gloucester,  Mass.  Married 
Geraldine  Goldthwaithe,  daughter  of  George  L.  and  Mabel  Clif¬ 
ford  (Wonson)  Goldthwaithe  of  Gloucester,  on  October  29,  1938. 

He  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Massachusetts  in  1930, 
and  the  Cornell  School  of  Veterinary  Medicine  in  1934.  He  is  a 
Veterinarian  and  dairyman  in  Gloucester.  She  was  born  on  Febru¬ 
ary  8,  1913,  and  is  a  graduate  of  Jackson  College.  They  have 
four  children:  —  Karin,  Geraldine,  Marcia  Lee,  and  Linda  Jane. 

David  Leveau  Babson,  born  September  1 6,  1911,  at  Gloucester, 
Mass.  Married  Katherine  Lockhart  Allen,  daughter  of  George 
and  Florence  (Hobbie)  Allen,  on  September  29,  1934,  at  Man¬ 
chester,  Mass.  A  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1932,  he  is  an 
Investment  Counsellor  in  Boston.  She  was  born  September  10, 

1913,  and  is  a  graduate  of  Abbot  Academy.  They  have  three 
children:  —  David  Leveau,  Jr.,  Susan  Allen,  and  Katherine 
Lockhart. 


92 


- IMPORTANT  NOTE - 

Supplementing  the  above,  see  THE  REPORT  OF  THE  COLO¬ 
NIC  BABSONS  by  George  J.  Babson  of  Leesburg,  Virginia 

and  the  CHAMBERLAIN  GENEALOGY,  published  by  Roger 
W.  Babson,  Wellesley  Hills,  Mass. 


THE  WINDSOR  PRESS  INC. 
DEFAZIO  BUILDING 
WELLESLEY  HILLS  81.  MASS.